diff --git a/packages/forms/src/directives/shared.ts b/packages/forms/src/directives/shared.ts
index 377965f492ac..3915e16b893d 100644
--- a/packages/forms/src/directives/shared.ts
+++ b/packages/forms/src/directives/shared.ts
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ import {FormArrayName} from './reactive_directives/form_group_name';
 import {ngModelWarning} from './reactive_errors';
 import {AsyncValidatorFn, Validator, ValidatorFn} from './validators';
 
-
 export function controlPath(name: string|null, parent: ControlContainer): string[] {
   return [...parent.path!, name!];
 }
@@ -91,7 +90,7 @@ export function cleanUpControl(
 }
 
 function registerOnValidatorChange<V>(validators: (V|Validator)[], onChange: () => void): void {
-  validators.forEach((validator: (V|Validator)) => {
+  validators.forEach((validator: V|Validator) => {
     if ((<Validator>validator).registerOnValidatorChange)
       (<Validator>validator).registerOnValidatorChange!(onChange);
   });
@@ -172,7 +171,7 @@ export function cleanUpValidators(
       const validators = getControlValidators(control);
       if (Array.isArray(validators) && validators.length > 0) {
         // Filter out directive validator function.
-        const updatedValidators = validators.filter(validator => validator !== dir.validator);
+        const updatedValidators = validators.filter((validator) => validator !== dir.validator);
         if (updatedValidators.length !== validators.length) {
           isControlUpdated = true;
           control.setValidators(updatedValidators);
@@ -185,7 +184,7 @@ export function cleanUpValidators(
       if (Array.isArray(asyncValidators) && asyncValidators.length > 0) {
         // Filter out directive async validator function.
         const updatedAsyncValidators =
-            asyncValidators.filter(asyncValidator => asyncValidator !== dir.asyncValidator);
+            asyncValidators.filter((asyncValidator) => asyncValidator !== dir.asyncValidator);
         if (updatedAsyncValidators.length !== asyncValidators.length) {
           isControlUpdated = true;
           control.setAsyncValidators(updatedAsyncValidators);
@@ -276,17 +275,24 @@ function _noControlError(dir: NgControl) {
 }
 
 function _throwError(dir: AbstractControlDirective, message: string): void {
-  let messageEnd: string;
-  if (dir.path!.length > 1) {
-    messageEnd = `path: '${dir.path!.join(' -> ')}'`;
-  } else if (dir.path![0]) {
-    messageEnd = `name: '${dir.path}'`;
-  } else {
-    messageEnd = 'unspecified name attribute';
-  }
+  const messageEnd = _describeControlLocation(dir);
   throw new Error(`${message} ${messageEnd}`);
 }
 
+function _describeControlLocation(dir: AbstractControlDirective): string {
+  const path = dir.path;
+  if (path && path.length > 1) return `path: '${path.join(' -> ')}'`;
+  if (path?.[0]) return `name: '${path}'`;
+  return 'unspecified name attribute';
+}
+
+function _throwInvalidValueAccessorError(dir: AbstractControlDirective) {
+  const loc = _describeControlLocation(dir);
+  throw new Error(
+      `Value accessor was not provided as an array for form control with ${loc}. ` +
+      `Check that the \`NG_VALUE_ACCESSOR\` token is configured as a \`multi: true\` provider.`);
+}
+
 export function isPropertyUpdated(changes: {[key: string]: any}, viewModel: any): boolean {
   if (!changes.hasOwnProperty('model')) return false;
   const change = changes['model'];
@@ -318,7 +324,7 @@ export function selectValueAccessor(
   if (!valueAccessors) return null;
 
   if (!Array.isArray(valueAccessors) && (typeof ngDevMode === 'undefined' || ngDevMode))
-    _throwError(dir, 'Value accessor was not provided as an array for form control with');
+    _throwInvalidValueAccessorError(dir);
 
   let defaultAccessor: ControlValueAccessor|undefined = undefined;
   let builtinAccessor: ControlValueAccessor|undefined = undefined;
@@ -327,12 +333,10 @@ export function selectValueAccessor(
   valueAccessors.forEach((v: ControlValueAccessor) => {
     if (v.constructor === DefaultValueAccessor) {
       defaultAccessor = v;
-
     } else if (isBuiltInAccessor(v)) {
       if (builtinAccessor && (typeof ngDevMode === 'undefined' || ngDevMode))
         _throwError(dir, 'More than one built-in value accessor matches form control with');
       builtinAccessor = v;
-
     } else {
       if (customAccessor && (typeof ngDevMode === 'undefined' || ngDevMode))
         _throwError(dir, 'More than one custom value accessor matches form control with');
diff --git a/packages/forms/test/directives_spec.ts b/packages/forms/test/directives_spec.ts
index 0b94bdc02bdf..90d138de139c 100644
--- a/packages/forms/test/directives_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/forms/test/directives_spec.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import {fakeAsync, flushMicrotasks, tick} from '@angular/core/testing';
 import {AbstractControl, CheckboxControlValueAccessor, ControlValueAccessor, DefaultValueAccessor, FormArray, FormArrayName, FormControl, FormControlDirective, FormControlName, FormGroup, FormGroupDirective, FormGroupName, NgControl, NgForm, NgModel, NgModelGroup, SelectControlValueAccessor, SelectMultipleControlValueAccessor, ValidationErrors, Validator, Validators} from '@angular/forms';
 import {selectValueAccessor} from '@angular/forms/src/directives/shared';
 import {composeValidators} from '@angular/forms/src/validators';
+
 import {asyncValidator} from './util';
 
 class DummyControlValueAccessor implements ControlValueAccessor {
@@ -53,7 +54,7 @@ class CustomValidatorDirective implements Validator {
         it('should throw when accessor is not provided as array', () => {
           expect(() => selectValueAccessor(dir, {} as any[]))
               .toThrowError(
-                  `Value accessor was not provided as an array for form control with unspecified name attribute`);
+                  'Value accessor was not provided as an array for form control with unspecified name attribute. Check that the \`NG_VALUE_ACCESSOR\` token is configured as a \`multi: true\` provider.');
         });
 
         it('should return the default value accessor when no other provided', () => {