diff --git a/src/cdk/drag-drop/directives/drag-handle.ts b/src/cdk/drag-drop/directives/drag-handle.ts
index 0cf5223ba97e..a5ac6516a46c 100644
--- a/src/cdk/drag-drop/directives/drag-handle.ts
+++ b/src/cdk/drag-drop/directives/drag-handle.ts
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import {
   SkipSelf,
 } from '@angular/core';
 import {Subject} from 'rxjs';
+import type {CdkDrag} from './drag';
 import {CDK_DRAG_PARENT} from '../drag-parent';
 import {assertElementNode} from './assertions';
 
@@ -38,7 +39,7 @@ export const CDK_DRAG_HANDLE = new InjectionToken<CdkDragHandle>('CdkDragHandle'
 })
 export class CdkDragHandle implements OnDestroy {
   /** Closest parent draggable instance. */
-  _parentDrag: {} | undefined;
+  _parentDrag: CdkDrag | undefined;
 
   /** Emits when the state of the handle has changed. */
   readonly _stateChanges = new Subject<CdkDragHandle>();
@@ -56,7 +57,7 @@ export class CdkDragHandle implements OnDestroy {
 
   constructor(
     public element: ElementRef<HTMLElement>,
-    @Inject(CDK_DRAG_PARENT) @Optional() @SkipSelf() parentDrag?: any,
+    @Inject(CDK_DRAG_PARENT) @Optional() @SkipSelf() parentDrag?: CdkDrag,
   ) {
     if (typeof ngDevMode === 'undefined' || ngDevMode) {
       assertElementNode(element.nativeElement, 'cdkDragHandle');