diff --git a/packages/proto-plus/proto/message.py b/packages/proto-plus/proto/message.py
index 123e58a1c5fe..1682bf8d54af 100644
--- a/packages/proto-plus/proto/message.py
+++ b/packages/proto-plus/proto/message.py
@@ -680,7 +680,13 @@ def __init__(
                 params[key] = pb_value
 
         # Create the internal protocol buffer.
-        super().__setattr__("_pb", self._meta.pb(**params))
+        try:
+            super().__setattr__("_pb", self._meta.pb(**params))
+        except TypeError as ex:
+            raise TypeError(
+                f"Failed to initialize {self.__class__.__name__} due to invalid type "
+                f"or structure in parameters. Underlying error: {ex}"
+            ) from ex
 
     def _get_pb_type_from_key(self, key):
         """Given a key, return the corresponding pb_type.
@@ -861,7 +867,14 @@ def __setattr__(self, key, value):
 
         # Merge in the value being set.
         if pb_value is not None:
-            self._pb.MergeFrom(self._meta.pb(**{key: pb_value}))
+            try:
+                self._pb.MergeFrom(self._meta.pb(**{key: pb_value}))
+            except TypeError as ex:
+                raise TypeError(
+                    f"Failed to set field '{key}' on {self.__class__.__name__} with value {value!r}. "
+                    f"Underlying error: {ex}"
+                ) from ex
+
 
     def __getstate__(self):
         """Serialize for pickling."""