diff --git a/src/ngMessages/messages.js b/src/ngMessages/messages.js
index 14ffe00506b0..6edb638dfb82 100644
--- a/src/ngMessages/messages.js
+++ b/src/ngMessages/messages.js
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ var jqLite = angular.element;
  * sequencing based on the order of how the messages are defined in the template.
  *
  * Currently, the ngMessages module only contains the code for the `ngMessages`, `ngMessagesInclude`
- * `ngMessage` and `ngMessageExp` directives.
+ * `ngMessage`, `ngMessageExp` and `ngMessageDefault` directives.
  *
  * # Usage
  * The `ngMessages` directive listens on a key/value collection which is set on the ngMessages attribute.
@@ -239,6 +239,19 @@ var jqLite = angular.element;
  * .some-message.ng-leave.ng-leave-active {}
  * ```
  *
+ * ## Displaying a default message
+ * If the ngMessages renders no inner ngMessage directive (that is to say when the key values does not
+ * match the attribute value present on each ngMessage directive), then it will render a default message
+ * using the ngMessageDefault directive.
+ *
+ * ```html
+ * <div ng-messages="myForm.myField.$error" role="alert">
+ *   <div ng-message="required">This field is required</div>
+ *   <div ng-message="minlength">This field is too short</div>
+ *   <div ng-message-default>This is a default message</div>
+ * </div>
+ * ```
+ *
  * {@link ngAnimate Click here} to learn how to use JavaScript animations or to learn more about ngAnimate.
  */
 angular.module('ngMessages', [])
@@ -260,6 +273,9 @@ angular.module('ngMessages', [])
     * at a time and this depends on the prioritization of the messages within the template. (This can
     * be changed by using the `ng-messages-multiple` or `multiple` attribute on the directive container.)
     *
+    * A default message can also be displayed when no `ngMessage` directive is inserted, using the
+    * `ngMessageDefault` directive.
+    *
     * A remote template can also be used to promote message reusability and messages can also be
     * overridden.
     *
@@ -272,6 +288,7 @@ angular.module('ngMessages', [])
     *   <ANY ng-message="stringValue">...</ANY>
     *   <ANY ng-message="stringValue1, stringValue2, ...">...</ANY>
     *   <ANY ng-message-exp="expressionValue">...</ANY>
+    *   <ANY ng-message-default>...</ANY>
     * </ANY>
     *
     * <!-- or by using element directives -->
@@ -279,6 +296,7 @@ angular.module('ngMessages', [])
     *   <ng-message when="stringValue">...</ng-message>
     *   <ng-message when="stringValue1, stringValue2, ...">...</ng-message>
     *   <ng-message when-exp="expressionValue">...</ng-message>
+    *   <ng-message-default>...</ng-message-default>
     * </ng-messages>
     * ```
     *
@@ -307,6 +325,7 @@ angular.module('ngMessages', [])
     *         <div ng-message="required">You did not enter a field</div>
     *         <div ng-message="minlength">Your field is too short</div>
     *         <div ng-message="maxlength">Your field is too long</div>
+    *         <div ng-message-default>This is a default message</div>
     *       </div>
     *     </form>
     *   </file>
@@ -379,9 +398,17 @@ angular.module('ngMessages', [])
              messageCtrl.detach();
            });
 
-           unmatchedMessages.length !== totalMessages
-              ? $animate.setClass($element, ACTIVE_CLASS, INACTIVE_CLASS)
-              : $animate.setClass($element, INACTIVE_CLASS, ACTIVE_CLASS);
+           if (unmatchedMessages.length !== totalMessages) {
+             // Unset default message if setted
+             if (ctrl.default) { ctrl.default.detach(); }
+
+             $animate.setClass($element, ACTIVE_CLASS, INACTIVE_CLASS);
+           } else {
+             // Set default message when no other one matched
+             if (ctrl.default) { ctrl.default.attach(); }
+
+             $animate.setClass($element, INACTIVE_CLASS, ACTIVE_CLASS);
+           }
          };
 
          $scope.$watchCollection($attrs.ngMessages || $attrs['for'], ctrl.render);
@@ -397,23 +424,32 @@ angular.module('ngMessages', [])
            }
          };
 
-         this.register = function(comment, messageCtrl) {
-           var nextKey = latestKey.toString();
-           messages[nextKey] = {
-             message: messageCtrl
-           };
-           insertMessageNode($element[0], comment, nextKey);
-           comment.$$ngMessageNode = nextKey;
-           latestKey++;
+         this.register = function(comment, messageCtrl, isDefault) {
+           if (isDefault) {
+            ctrl.default = messageCtrl;
+           } else {
+            var nextKey = latestKey.toString();
+            messages[nextKey] = {
+              message: messageCtrl
+            };
+            insertMessageNode($element[0], comment, nextKey);
+            comment.$$ngMessageNode = nextKey;
+            latestKey++;
+           }
 
            ctrl.reRender();
          };
 
-         this.deregister = function(comment) {
-           var key = comment.$$ngMessageNode;
-           delete comment.$$ngMessageNode;
-           removeMessageNode($element[0], comment, key);
-           delete messages[key];
+         this.deregister = function(comment, isDefault) {
+           if (isDefault) {
+            delete ctrl.default;
+           } else {
+            var key = comment.$$ngMessageNode;
+            delete comment.$$ngMessageNode;
+            removeMessageNode($element[0], comment, key);
+            delete messages[key];
+           }
+
            ctrl.reRender();
          };
 
@@ -594,9 +630,45 @@ angular.module('ngMessages', [])
     *
     * @param {expression} ngMessageExp|whenExp an expression value corresponding to the message key.
     */
-  .directive('ngMessageExp', ngMessageDirectiveFactory('A'));
+  .directive('ngMessageExp', ngMessageDirectiveFactory('A'))
+
+   /**
+    * @ngdoc directive
+    * @name ngMessageDefault
+    * @restrict AE
+    * @scope
+    *
+    * @description
+    * `ngMessageDefault` is a directive with the purpose to show and hide a default message.
+    * For `ngMessageDefault` to operate, no `ngMessage` inner directive should be displayed
+    * in the parent `ngMessages` directive.
+    *
+    * More information about using `ngMessageDefault` can be found in the
+    * {@link module:ngMessages `ngMessages` module documentation}.
+    *
+    * @usage
+    * ```html
+    * <!-- using attribute directives -->
+    * <ANY ng-messages="expression" role="alert">
+    *   <ANY ng-message="stringValue">...</ANY>
+    *   <ANY ng-message="stringValue1, stringValue2, ...">...</ANY>
+    *   <ANY ng-message-default>...</ANY>
+    * </ANY>
+    *
+    * <!-- or by using element directives -->
+    * <ng-messages for="expression" role="alert">
+    *   <ng-message when="stringValue">...</ng-message>
+    *   <ng-message when="stringValue1, stringValue2, ...">...</ng-message>
+    *   <ng-message-default>...</ng-message-default>
+    * </ng-messages>
+    * ```
+    *
+    * @param {expression} ngMessageDefault|when no ngMessage matches.
+    */
+  .directive('ngMessageDefault', ngMessageDirectiveFactory('AE', true));
 
-function ngMessageDirectiveFactory(restrict) {
+
+function ngMessageDirectiveFactory(restrict, isDefault) {
   return ['$animate', function($animate) {
     return {
       restrict: 'AE',
@@ -604,25 +676,28 @@ function ngMessageDirectiveFactory(restrict) {
       terminal: true,
       require: '^^ngMessages',
       link: function(scope, element, attrs, ngMessagesCtrl, $transclude) {
-        var commentNode = element[0];
-
-        var records;
-        var staticExp = attrs.ngMessage || attrs.when;
-        var dynamicExp = attrs.ngMessageExp || attrs.whenExp;
-        var assignRecords = function(items) {
-          records = items
-              ? (isArray(items)
-                    ? items
-                    : items.split(/[\s,]+/))
-              : null;
-          ngMessagesCtrl.reRender();
-        };
-
-        if (dynamicExp) {
-          assignRecords(scope.$eval(dynamicExp));
-          scope.$watchCollection(dynamicExp, assignRecords);
-        } else {
-          assignRecords(staticExp);
+        var commentNode, records, staticExp, dynamicExp;
+
+        if (!isDefault) {
+          commentNode = element[0];
+          staticExp = attrs.ngMessage || attrs.when;
+          dynamicExp = attrs.ngMessageExp || attrs.whenExp;
+
+          var assignRecords = function(items) {
+            records = items
+                ? (isArray(items)
+                      ? items
+                      : items.split(/[\s,]+/))
+                : null;
+            ngMessagesCtrl.reRender();
+          };
+
+          if (dynamicExp) {
+            assignRecords(scope.$eval(dynamicExp));
+            scope.$watchCollection(dynamicExp, assignRecords);
+          } else {
+            assignRecords(staticExp);
+          }
         }
 
         var currentElement, messageCtrl;
@@ -641,7 +716,7 @@ function ngMessageDirectiveFactory(restrict) {
                 // to deregister the message from the controller
                 currentElement.on('$destroy', function() {
                   if (currentElement) {
-                    ngMessagesCtrl.deregister(commentNode);
+                    ngMessagesCtrl.deregister(commentNode, isDefault);
                     messageCtrl.detach();
                   }
                 });
@@ -655,7 +730,7 @@ function ngMessageDirectiveFactory(restrict) {
               $animate.leave(elm);
             }
           }
-        });
+        }, isDefault);
       }
     };
   }];
diff --git a/test/ngMessages/messagesSpec.js b/test/ngMessages/messagesSpec.js
index 037175031ded..f81cd4baadf0 100644
--- a/test/ngMessages/messagesSpec.js
+++ b/test/ngMessages/messagesSpec.js
@@ -401,6 +401,24 @@ describe('ngMessages', function() {
     });
   });
 
+  it('should render a default message when no one matched', inject(function($rootScope, $compile) {
+    element = $compile('<div ng-messages="col">' +
+                       '  <div ng-message="val">Message is set</div>' +
+                       '  <div ng-message-default>Default message is set</div>' +
+                       '</div>')($rootScope);
+    $rootScope.$digest();
+
+    //expect(element.text()).not.toContain('Message is set');
+    expect(element.text()).toContain('Default message is set');
+
+    $rootScope.$apply(function() {
+      $rootScope.col = { val: true };
+    });
+
+    //expect(element.text()).toContain('Message is set');
+    expect(element.text()).not.toContain('Default message is set');
+  }));
+
   describe('when including templates', function() {
     they('should work with a dynamic collection model which is managed by ngRepeat',
       {'<div ng-messages-include="...">': '<div ng-messages="item">' +