diff --git a/src/formula/formula.py b/src/formula/formula.py
index 884943f8..cd3614ab 100644
--- a/src/formula/formula.py
+++ b/src/formula/formula.py
@@ -68,11 +68,14 @@ def __call__(
                 pass
             elif values is not None and len(variables) == 1:
                 variables_to_values = {variables.pop(): str(values)}
+            elif values is None:
+                raise ValueError(
+                    f"Missing values for variables: {variables}"
+                )
             else:
                 raise ValueError(
-                    "The value of the 'values' parameter is not a dict!"
-                    " Its type is %s A dictionary is expected with values for"
-                    " the following variables: %s" % (type(values), str(variables))
+                    f"Expected a Mapping for 'values' (got "
+                    f"{type(values).__name__}); variables to provide: {variables}"
                 )
 
         for key in variables_to_values:
diff --git a/tests/test_solver_missing_values_message.py b/tests/test_solver_missing_values_message.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b3bb36a8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_solver_missing_values_message.py
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+"""Regression: clear error message when values are missing or the wrong type.
+
+Before, calling solver() (values=None) on a multi-variable formula raised
+ValueError with "The value of the 'values' parameter is not a dict! Its
+type is <class 'NoneType'>" — misleading, because the actual problem is
+that the caller didn't pass any values at all.
+"""
+
+import pytest
+
+from formula import Solver
+
+
+def test_missing_values_dict_for_multi_variable_formula():
+    solver = Solver("x + y")
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Missing values for variables"):
+        solver()
+
+
+def test_wrong_type_for_values_on_multi_variable_formula():
+    solver = Solver("x + y")
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Expected a Mapping"):
+        solver(123)
+
+
+def test_wrong_type_error_names_the_actual_type():
+    solver = Solver("x + y")
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="int"):
+        solver(42)
+
+
+def test_proper_values_still_work():
+    solver = Solver("x + y")
+    assert solver({"x": "1", "y": "2"}) == "3"