diff --git a/rclcpp/include/rclcpp/exceptions/exceptions.hpp b/rclcpp/include/rclcpp/exceptions/exceptions.hpp
index 27c695c0b6..524ccf73ea 100644
--- a/rclcpp/include/rclcpp/exceptions/exceptions.hpp
+++ b/rclcpp/include/rclcpp/exceptions/exceptions.hpp
@@ -282,8 +282,8 @@ class ParameterModifiedInCallbackException : public std::runtime_error
   using std::runtime_error::runtime_error;
 };
 
-/// Thrown when a parameter override wasn't provided and one was required.
-class NoParameterOverrideProvided : public std::runtime_error
+/// Thrown when an uninitialized parameter is accessed.
+class ParameterUninitializedException : public std::runtime_error
 {
 public:
   /// Construct an instance.
@@ -291,8 +291,8 @@ class NoParameterOverrideProvided : public std::runtime_error
    * \param[in] name the name of the parameter.
    * \param[in] message custom exception message.
    */
-  explicit NoParameterOverrideProvided(const std::string & name)
-  : std::runtime_error("parameter '" + name + "' requires an user provided parameter override")
+  explicit ParameterUninitializedException(const std::string & name)
+  : std::runtime_error("parameter '" + name + "' is not initialized")
   {}
 };
 
diff --git a/rclcpp/src/rclcpp/node_interfaces/node_parameters.cpp b/rclcpp/src/rclcpp/node_interfaces/node_parameters.cpp
index 1f9e32acbc..3d91943bc5 100644
--- a/rclcpp/src/rclcpp/node_interfaces/node_parameters.cpp
+++ b/rclcpp/src/rclcpp/node_interfaces/node_parameters.cpp
@@ -349,6 +349,21 @@ __declare_parameter_common(
     initial_value = &overrides_it->second;
   }
 
+  // If there is no initial value, then skip initialization
+  if (initial_value->get_type() == rclcpp::PARAMETER_NOT_SET) {
+    // Add declared parameters to storage (without a value)
+    parameter_infos[name].descriptor.name = name;
+    if (parameter_descriptor.dynamic_typing) {
+      parameter_infos[name].descriptor.type = rclcpp::PARAMETER_NOT_SET;
+    } else {
+      parameter_infos[name].descriptor.type = parameter_descriptor.type;
+    }
+    parameters_out[name] = parameter_infos.at(name);
+    rcl_interfaces::msg::SetParametersResult result;
+    result.successful = true;
+    return result;
+  }
+
   // Check with the user's callback to see if the initial value can be set.
   std::vector<rclcpp::Parameter> parameter_wrappers {rclcpp::Parameter(name, *initial_value)};
   // This function also takes care of default vs initial value.
@@ -413,14 +428,6 @@ declare_parameter_helper(
     parameter_descriptor.type = static_cast<uint8_t>(type);
   }
 
-  if (
-    rclcpp::PARAMETER_NOT_SET == default_value.get_type() &&
-    overrides.find(name) == overrides.end() &&
-    parameter_descriptor.dynamic_typing == false)
-  {
-    throw rclcpp::exceptions::NoParameterOverrideProvided(name);
-  }
-
   rcl_interfaces::msg::ParameterEvent parameter_event;
   auto result = __declare_parameter_common(
     name,
@@ -806,14 +813,21 @@ NodeParameters::get_parameters(const std::vector<std::string> & names) const
 rclcpp::Parameter
 NodeParameters::get_parameter(const std::string & name) const
 {
-  rclcpp::Parameter parameter;
+  std::lock_guard<std::recursive_mutex> lock(mutex_);
 
-  if (get_parameter(name, parameter)) {
-    return parameter;
+  auto param_iter = parameters_.find(name);
+  if (
+    parameters_.end() != param_iter &&
+    (param_iter->second.value.get_type() != rclcpp::ParameterType::PARAMETER_NOT_SET ||
+    param_iter->second.descriptor.dynamic_typing))
+  {
+    return rclcpp::Parameter{name, param_iter->second.value};
   } else if (this->allow_undeclared_) {
-    return parameter;
-  } else {
+    return rclcpp::Parameter{};
+  } else if (parameters_.end() == param_iter) {
     throw rclcpp::exceptions::ParameterNotDeclaredException(name);
+  } else {
+    throw rclcpp::exceptions::ParameterUninitializedException(name);
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/rclcpp/test/rclcpp/test_node.cpp b/rclcpp/test/rclcpp/test_node.cpp
index dff05a0667..8d2e8a8410 100644
--- a/rclcpp/test/rclcpp/test_node.cpp
+++ b/rclcpp/test/rclcpp/test_node.cpp
@@ -335,9 +335,14 @@ TEST_F(TestNode, declare_parameter_with_no_initial_values) {
     rcl_interfaces::msg::ParameterDescriptor descriptor;
     descriptor.dynamic_typing = true;
     // no default, no initial
+    const std::string parameter_name = "parameter"_unq;
     rclcpp::ParameterValue value = node->declare_parameter(
-      "parameter"_unq, rclcpp::ParameterValue{}, descriptor);
+      parameter_name, rclcpp::ParameterValue{}, descriptor);
     EXPECT_EQ(value.get_type(), rclcpp::PARAMETER_NOT_SET);
+    // Does not throw if unset before access
+    EXPECT_EQ(
+      rclcpp::PARAMETER_NOT_SET,
+      node->get_parameter(parameter_name).get_parameter_value().get_type());
   }
   {
     // int default, no initial
@@ -2798,9 +2803,20 @@ TEST_F(TestNode, static_and_dynamic_typing) {
     EXPECT_EQ("hello!", param);
   }
   {
+    auto param = node->declare_parameter("integer_override_not_given", rclcpp::PARAMETER_INTEGER);
+    EXPECT_EQ(rclcpp::PARAMETER_NOT_SET, param.get_type());
+    // Throws if not set before access
     EXPECT_THROW(
-      node->declare_parameter("integer_override_not_given", rclcpp::PARAMETER_INTEGER),
-      rclcpp::exceptions::NoParameterOverrideProvided);
+      node->get_parameter("integer_override_not_given"),
+      rclcpp::exceptions::ParameterUninitializedException);
+  }
+  {
+    auto param = node->declare_parameter("integer_set_after_declare", rclcpp::PARAMETER_INTEGER);
+    EXPECT_EQ(rclcpp::PARAMETER_NOT_SET, param.get_type());
+    auto result = node->set_parameter(rclcpp::Parameter{"integer_set_after_declare", 44});
+    ASSERT_TRUE(result.successful) << result.reason;
+    auto get_param = node->get_parameter("integer_set_after_declare");
+    EXPECT_EQ(44, get_param.as_int());
   }
   {
     EXPECT_THROW(