diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 28e1285be1..9d5c447846 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 
 - [11672](https://github.com/vegaprotocol/vega/issues/11672) - Add missing fees in GraphQL bindings.
 - [11681](https://github.com/vegaprotocol/vega/issues/11681) - Account for conflicts inserting funding payment records.
+- [11684](https://github.com/vegaprotocol/vega/issues/11684) - Better error when `Arbitrum` bridge details are missing from validator configuration.
 - [11696](https://github.com/vegaprotocol/vega/issues/11696) - Add binding for estimate fees API.
 
 
diff --git a/core/protocol/all_services.go b/core/protocol/all_services.go
index 974507f17e..e4a3f79fe9 100644
--- a/core/protocol/all_services.go
+++ b/core/protocol/all_services.go
@@ -255,6 +255,10 @@ func newServices(
 	svcs.forwarderHeartbeat = evtforward.NewTracker(log, svcs.witness, svcs.timeService)
 
 	if svcs.conf.HaveEthClient() {
+		if len(svcs.conf.EvtForward.EVMBridges) != 1 {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("require exactly 1 [[EvtForward.EVMBridges]] in configuration file, got: %d", len(svcs.conf.EvtForward.EVMBridges))
+		}
+
 		svcs.primaryBridgeView = bridges.NewERC20LogicView(primaryEthClient, primaryEthConfirmations)
 		svcs.secondaryBridgeView = bridges.NewERC20LogicView(secondaryEthClient, secondaryEthConfirmations)
 		svcs.primaryEventForwarderEngine = evtforward.NewEngine(svcs.log, svcs.conf.EvtForward.Ethereum)