diff --git a/src/ngxerror.directive.ts b/src/ngxerror.directive.ts
index 6b5ae7d..e15b61a 100755
--- a/src/ngxerror.directive.ts
+++ b/src/ngxerror.directive.ts
@@ -58,14 +58,23 @@ export class NgxErrorDirective implements OnInit, OnDestroy, DoCheck {
 
     this.subscription = Observable.combineLatest(states, errors)
       .subscribe(([states, errors]) => {
-        this.hidden = !(states && errors.control.hasError(errors.errorName));
+        if (errors.control) {
+          this.hidden = !(states && errors.control.hasError(errors.errorName));
+        } else {
+          this.hidden = !(states && errors.form.hasError(errors.errorName));
+        }
       });
 
   }
 
   ngDoCheck() {
     this._states.next(
-      this.rules.filter((rule) => (this.ngxErrors.control as any)[rule])
+      this.rules.filter((rule) => {
+        if (this.ngxErrors.control) {
+          return (this.ngxErrors.control as any)[rule];
+        }
+        return (this.ngxErrors.form as any)[rule];
+      })
     );
   }
 
@@ -73,4 +82,4 @@ export class NgxErrorDirective implements OnInit, OnDestroy, DoCheck {
     this.subscription.unsubscribe();
   }
 
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/src/ngxerrors.directive.ts b/src/ngxerrors.directive.ts
index e0b74da..e8a3a47 100755
--- a/src/ngxerrors.directive.ts
+++ b/src/ngxerrors.directive.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { Directive, Input, OnChanges, OnDestroy, AfterViewInit } from '@angular/core';
+import { Directive, Input, OnChanges, OnDestroy, AfterViewInit, ChangeDetectorRef } from '@angular/core';
 import { FormGroupDirective, AbstractControl } from '@angular/forms';
 
 import { BehaviorSubject } from 'rxjs/BehaviorSubject';
@@ -23,12 +23,16 @@ export class NgxErrorsDirective implements OnChanges, OnDestroy, AfterViewInit {
   ready: boolean = false;
 
   constructor(
-    private form: FormGroupDirective
+    public form: FormGroupDirective,
+    private changeDetectorRef: ChangeDetectorRef
   ) { }
 
   get errors() {
     if (!this.ready) return;
-    return this.control.errors;
+    if (this.control) {
+      return this.control.errors;
+    }
+    return this.form.errors;
   }
 
   get hasErrors() {
@@ -45,40 +49,68 @@ export class NgxErrorsDirective implements OnChanges, OnDestroy, AfterViewInit {
 
   getError(name: string) {
     if (!this.ready) return;
-    return this.control.getError(name);
+    if (this.control) {
+      return this.control.getError(name);
+    }
+    return this.form.getError(name);
   }
 
   private checkPropState(prop: string, name: string, conditions: ErrorOptions): boolean {
     if (!this.ready) return;
-    const controlPropsState = (
-      !conditions || toArray(conditions).every((condition: string) => this.control[condition])
+    const propsState = (
+      !conditions || toArray(conditions).every(
+        (condition: string) =>
+          this.control ? this.control[condition] : this.form[condition]
+      )
     );
     if (name.charAt(0) === '*') {
-      return this.control[prop] && controlPropsState;
+      if (this.control) {
+        return this.control[prop] && propsState;
+      }
+      return this.form[prop] && propsState;
+    }
+    if (this.control) {
+      return (
+        prop === 'valid' ? !this.control.hasError(name) : this.control.hasError(name) && propsState
+      );
     }
     return (
-      prop === 'valid' ? !this.control.hasError(name) : this.control.hasError(name) && controlPropsState
+      prop === 'valid' ? !this.form.hasError(name) : this.form.hasError(name) && propsState
     );
   }
 
   private checkStatus() {
     const control = this.control;
-    const errors = control.errors;
+    const form = this.form;
+    const errors = control ? control.errors : form.errors;
     this.ready = true;
     if (!errors) return;
     for (const errorName in errors) {
-      this.subject.next({ control, errorName });
+      if (this.control) {
+        this.subject.next({ control, errorName });
+      } else {
+        this.subject.next({ form, errorName });
+
+        // why does this seem necessary? I don't understand
+        this.changeDetectorRef.detectChanges();
+      }
     }
   }
 
   ngOnChanges() {
-    this.control = this.form.control.get(this.controlName);
+    if (this.controlName) {
+      this.control = this.form.control.get(this.controlName);
+    }
   }
-  
+
   ngAfterViewInit() {
     setTimeout(() => {
       this.checkStatus();
-      this.control.statusChanges.subscribe(this.checkStatus.bind(this));
+      if (this.control) {
+        this.control.statusChanges.subscribe(this.checkStatus.bind(this));
+      } else {
+        this.form.statusChanges.subscribe(this.checkStatus.bind(this));
+      }
     });
   }
 
@@ -86,4 +118,4 @@ export class NgxErrorsDirective implements OnChanges, OnDestroy, AfterViewInit {
     this.subject.unsubscribe();
   }
 
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/src/ngxerrors.ts b/src/ngxerrors.ts
index d7bd701..f3f0068 100755
--- a/src/ngxerrors.ts
+++ b/src/ngxerrors.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
-import { AbstractControl } from '@angular/forms';
+import { AbstractControl, FormGroupDirective } from '@angular/forms';
 
 export type ErrorOptions = string | string[];
 
 export interface ErrorDetails {
-  control: AbstractControl,
+  control?: AbstractControl,
+  form?: FormGroupDirective,
   errorName: string
 }