diff --git a/python/packages/core/agent_framework/_workflows/_executor.py b/python/packages/core/agent_framework/_workflows/_executor.py
index d2bb2ac598..8b9369d675 100644
--- a/python/packages/core/agent_framework/_workflows/_executor.py
+++ b/python/packages/core/agent_framework/_workflows/_executor.py
@@ -622,6 +622,20 @@ def decorator(
                 resolve_type_annotation(workflow_output, func.__globals__) if workflow_output is not None else None
             )
 
+            # Check for unresolved TypeVars in explicit type parameters
+            for param_name, param_type in [
+                ("input", resolved_input_type),
+                ("output", resolved_output_type),
+                ("workflow_output", resolved_workflow_output_type),
+            ]:
+                if param_type is not None and isinstance(param_type, TypeVar):
+                    raise ValueError(
+                        f"Handler '{func.__name__}' has an unresolved TypeVar '{param_type}' "
+                        f"as its {param_name} type. "
+                        f"Use @handler(input=ConcreteType, output=ConcreteType) with concrete types "
+                        f"for parameterized executors."
+                    )
+
             # Validate signature structure (correct number of params, ctx is WorkflowContext)
             # but skip type extraction since we're using explicit types
             _validate_handler_signature(func, skip_message_annotation=True)
@@ -652,6 +666,15 @@ def decorator(
                     "or explicit type parameters (input, output, workflow_output)"
                 )
 
+            # Check for unresolved TypeVar in introspected message type
+            if isinstance(message_type, TypeVar):
+                raise ValueError(
+                    f"Handler '{func.__name__}' has an unresolved TypeVar '{message_type}' "
+                    f"as its message type. "
+                    f"Use @handler(input=ConcreteType, output=ConcreteType) with concrete types "
+                    f"for parameterized executors."
+                )
+
             final_output_types = inferred_output_types
             final_workflow_output_types = inferred_workflow_output_types
 
diff --git a/python/packages/core/agent_framework/_workflows/_function_executor.py b/python/packages/core/agent_framework/_workflows/_function_executor.py
index 326145b6c4..d5058e2138 100644
--- a/python/packages/core/agent_framework/_workflows/_function_executor.py
+++ b/python/packages/core/agent_framework/_workflows/_function_executor.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 import types
 import typing
 from collections.abc import Awaitable, Callable
-from typing import Any
+from typing import Any, TypeVar
 
 from ._executor import Executor
 from ._typing_utils import normalize_type_to_list, resolve_type_annotation
@@ -94,6 +94,19 @@ def __init__(
             _validate_function_signature(func, skip_message_annotation=resolved_input_type is not None)
         )
 
+        # Check for unresolved TypeVars in explicit type parameters
+        for param_name, param_type in [
+            ("input", resolved_input_type),
+            ("output", resolved_output_type),
+            ("workflow_output", resolved_workflow_output_type),
+        ]:
+            if param_type is not None and isinstance(param_type, TypeVar):
+                raise ValueError(
+                    f"Executor '{func.__name__}' has an unresolved TypeVar '{param_type}' "
+                    f"as its {param_name} type. "
+                    f"Use @executor(input=ConcreteType, output=ConcreteType) with concrete types."
+                )
+
         # Use explicit types if provided, otherwise fall back to introspection
         message_type = resolved_input_type if resolved_input_type is not None else introspected_message_type
         output_types: list[type[Any] | types.UnionType] = (
@@ -114,6 +127,14 @@ def __init__(
                 "or an explicit input_type parameter"
             )
 
+        # Check for unresolved TypeVar in introspected message type
+        if isinstance(message_type, TypeVar):
+            raise ValueError(
+                f"Executor '{func.__name__}' has an unresolved TypeVar '{message_type}' "
+                f"as its message type. "
+                f"Use @executor(input=ConcreteType, output=ConcreteType) with concrete types."
+            )
+
         # Store the original function
         self._original_func = func
         # Determine if function has WorkflowContext parameter
diff --git a/python/packages/core/agent_framework/_workflows/_workflow_context.py b/python/packages/core/agent_framework/_workflows/_workflow_context.py
index 51add07a5c..f3603f473e 100644
--- a/python/packages/core/agent_framework/_workflows/_workflow_context.py
+++ b/python/packages/core/agent_framework/_workflows/_workflow_context.py
@@ -176,10 +176,27 @@ def _is_type_like(x: Any) -> bool:
             if type_arg is Any:
                 continue
 
+            # Check for unresolved TypeVar early with an actionable error message
+            if isinstance(type_arg, TypeVar):
+                raise ValueError(
+                    f"{context_description} {parameter_name} {param_description} "
+                    f"has an unresolved TypeVar '{type_arg}'. "
+                    f"Use @handler(input=ConcreteType, output=ConcreteType) with concrete types "
+                    f"for parameterized executors."
+                )
+
             # Check if it's a union type and validate each member
             union_origin = get_origin(type_arg)
             if union_origin in (Union, UnionType):
                 union_members = get_args(type_arg)
+                typevar_members = [m for m in union_members if isinstance(m, TypeVar)]
+                if typevar_members:
+                    raise ValueError(
+                        f"{context_description} {parameter_name} {param_description} "
+                        f"contains unresolved TypeVar(s): {typevar_members}. "
+                        f"Use @handler(input=ConcreteType, output=ConcreteType) with concrete types "
+                        f"for parameterized executors."
+                    )
                 invalid_members = [m for m in union_members if not _is_type_like(m) and m is not Any]
                 if invalid_members:
                     raise ValueError(