diff --git a/rcl/src/rcl/guard_condition.c b/rcl/src/rcl/guard_condition.c
index 6f004b5..d7e17af 100644
--- a/rcl/src/rcl/guard_condition.c
+++ b/rcl/src/rcl/guard_condition.c
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ __rcl_guard_condition_init_from_rmw_impl(
     if (!guard_condition->impl->rmw_handle) {
       // Deallocate impl and exit.
       allocator->deallocate(guard_condition->impl, allocator->state);
+      guard_condition->impl = NULL;
       RCL_SET_ERROR_MSG(rmw_get_error_string().str);
       return RCL_RET_ERROR;
     }