diff --git a/lib/shoulda/matchers/active_model/validate_confirmation_of_matcher.rb b/lib/shoulda/matchers/active_model/validate_confirmation_of_matcher.rb
index f5f92c39f..4edc71e27 100644
--- a/lib/shoulda/matchers/active_model/validate_confirmation_of_matcher.rb
+++ b/lib/shoulda/matchers/active_model/validate_confirmation_of_matcher.rb
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ def initialize(attribute)
         end
 
         def simple_description
-          "validate that #{@confirmation_attribute} matches #{@attribute}"
+          "validate that :#{@confirmation_attribute} matches :#{@attribute}"
         end
 
         def matches?(subject)
@@ -103,30 +103,27 @@ def matches?(subject)
         private
 
         def disallows_different_value
-          set_confirmation('some value')
-
           disallows_value_of('different value') do |matcher|
-            qualify_matcher(matcher)
+            qualify_matcher(matcher, 'some value')
           end
         end
 
         def allows_same_value
-          set_confirmation('same value')
-
           allows_value_of('same value') do |matcher|
-            qualify_matcher(matcher)
+            qualify_matcher(matcher, 'same value')
           end
         end
 
         def allows_missing_confirmation
-          set_confirmation(nil)
-
           allows_value_of('any value') do |matcher|
-            qualify_matcher(matcher)
+            qualify_matcher(matcher, nil)
           end
         end
 
-        def qualify_matcher(matcher)
+        def qualify_matcher(matcher, confirmation_attribute_value)
+          matcher.values_to_preset = {
+            confirmation_attribute => confirmation_attribute_value
+          }
           matcher.with_message(
             @expected_message,
             against: confirmation_attribute,
@@ -134,12 +131,15 @@ def qualify_matcher(matcher)
           )
         end
 
-        def set_confirmation(val)
-          setter = :"#{@confirmation_attribute}="
+        def set_confirmation(value)
+          @last_value_set_on_confirmation_attribute = value
 
-          if @subject.respond_to?(setter)
-            @subject.__send__(setter, val)
-          end
+          AttributeSetter.set(
+            matcher_name: 'confirmation',
+            object: @subject,
+            attribute_name: confirmation_attribute,
+            value: value
+          )
         end
       end
     end
diff --git a/spec/support/unit/record_validating_confirmation_builder.rb b/spec/support/unit/record_validating_confirmation_builder.rb
index 40d23bc48..57368536e 100644
--- a/spec/support/unit/record_validating_confirmation_builder.rb
+++ b/spec/support/unit/record_validating_confirmation_builder.rb
@@ -25,9 +25,8 @@ def message=(message)
     end
 
     def attribute_to_confirm
-      :attribute_to_confirm
+      options.fetch(:attribute, :attribute_to_confirm)
     end
-    alias_method :attribute, :attribute_to_confirm
 
     def confirmation_attribute
       :"#{attribute_to_confirm}_confirmation"
@@ -44,11 +43,8 @@ def attribute_that_receives_error
     private
 
     def create_model
-      _attribute = attribute_to_confirm
-      _options = options
-
-      define_model(model_name, _attribute => :string) do
-        validates_confirmation_of(_attribute, _options)
+      define_model(model_name, attribute_to_confirm => :string) do |model|
+        model.validates_confirmation_of(attribute_to_confirm, options)
       end
     end
   end
diff --git a/spec/unit/shoulda/matchers/active_model/validate_confirmation_of_matcher_spec.rb b/spec/unit/shoulda/matchers/active_model/validate_confirmation_of_matcher_spec.rb
index db7fae995..b651f81d4 100644
--- a/spec/unit/shoulda/matchers/active_model/validate_confirmation_of_matcher_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/unit/shoulda/matchers/active_model/validate_confirmation_of_matcher_spec.rb
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
   context '#description' do
     it 'states that the confirmation must match its base attribute' do
       builder = builder_for_record_validating_confirmation
-      message = "validate that #{builder.confirmation_attribute} matches #{builder.attribute_to_confirm}"
+      message = "validate that :#{builder.confirmation_attribute} matches :#{builder.attribute_to_confirm}"
       matcher = described_class.new(builder.attribute_to_confirm)
       expect(matcher.description).to eq(message)
     end
@@ -29,11 +29,65 @@
     end
   end
 
-  context 'when the model does not have a confirmation validation' do
-    it 'fails' do
-      model = define_model(:example, attribute_to_confirm: :string)
-      record = model.new
-      expect(record).not_to validate_confirmation_of(:attribute_to_confirm)
+  context 'when the model does not have a confirmation attribute' do
+    it 'raises an AttributeDoesNotExistError' do
+      model = define_model(:example)
+
+      assertion = lambda do
+        expect(model.new).to validate_confirmation_of(:attribute_to_confirm)
+      end
+
+      message = <<-MESSAGE.rstrip
+The matcher attempted to set :attribute_to_confirm_confirmation to "some
+value" on the Example, but that attribute does not exist.
+      MESSAGE
+
+      expect(&assertion).to raise_error(
+        Shoulda::Matchers::ActiveModel::AllowValueMatcher::AttributeDoesNotExistError,
+        message
+      )
+    end
+  end
+
+  context 'when the model does not have the attribute under test' do
+    it 'raises an AttributeDoesNotExistError' do
+      model = define_model(:example, attribute_to_confirm_confirmation: :string)
+
+      assertion = lambda do
+        expect(model.new).to validate_confirmation_of(:attribute_to_confirm)
+      end
+
+      message = <<-MESSAGE.rstrip
+The matcher attempted to set :attribute_to_confirm to "different value"
+on the Example, but that attribute does not exist.
+      MESSAGE
+
+      expect(&assertion).to raise_error(
+        Shoulda::Matchers::ActiveModel::AllowValueMatcher::AttributeDoesNotExistError,
+        message
+      )
+    end
+  end
+
+  context 'when the model has all attributes, but does not have the validation' do
+    it 'fails with an appropriate failure message' do
+      model = define_model(:example, attribute_to_confirm: :string) do
+        attr_accessor :attribute_to_confirm_confirmation
+      end
+
+      assertion = lambda do
+        expect(model.new).to validate_confirmation_of(:attribute_to_confirm)
+      end
+
+      message = <<-MESSAGE
+Example did not properly validate that
+:attribute_to_confirm_confirmation matches :attribute_to_confirm.
+  After setting :attribute_to_confirm_confirmation to "some value", then
+  setting :attribute_to_confirm to "different value", the matcher
+  expected the Example to be invalid, but it was valid instead.
+      MESSAGE
+
+      expect(&assertion).to fail_with_message(message)
     end
   end