diff --git a/framework/CHANGELOG.md b/framework/CHANGELOG.md
index 290a2e04e8..2cbf31603a 100644
--- a/framework/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/framework/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ Yii Framework 2 Change Log
 - Bug #18913: Add filename validation for `MessageSource::getMessageFilePath()` (uaoleg)
 - Bug #18909: Fix bug with binding default action parameters for controllers (bizley)
 - Bug #18955: Check `yiisoft/yii2-swiftmailer` before using as default mailer in `yii\base\Application` (WinterSilence)
-- Enh #18962: Extend ignore list in `yii\console\MessageController::$except` (WinterSilence)
+- Bug #18988: Fix default value of `yii\console\controllers\MessageController::$translator` (WinterSilence)
 
 
 2.0.43 August 09, 2021
diff --git a/framework/console/controllers/MessageController.php b/framework/console/controllers/MessageController.php
index 17dcb899dc..5eb1e312a0 100644
--- a/framework/console/controllers/MessageController.php
+++ b/framework/console/controllers/MessageController.php
@@ -58,12 +58,11 @@ class MessageController extends \yii\console\Controller
      */
     public $languages = [];
     /**
-     * @var string|array the name of the function for translating messages.
-     * Defaults to 'Yii::t'. This is used as a mark to find the messages to be
-     * translated. You may use a string for single function name or an array for
-     * multiple function names.
+     * @var string|string[] the name of the function for translating messages.
+     * This is used as a mark to find the messages to be translated.
+     * You may use a string for single function name or an array for multiple function names.
      */
-    public $translator = 'Yii::t';
+    public $translator = ['Yii::t', '\Yii::t'];
     /**
      * @var bool whether to sort messages by keys when merging new messages
      * with the existing ones. Defaults to false, which means the new (untranslated)
diff --git a/tests/framework/console/controllers/BaseMessageControllerTest.php b/tests/framework/console/controllers/BaseMessageControllerTest.php
index 87a186fceb..b3485967e4 100644
--- a/tests/framework/console/controllers/BaseMessageControllerTest.php
+++ b/tests/framework/console/controllers/BaseMessageControllerTest.php
@@ -170,7 +170,8 @@ abstract class BaseMessageControllerTest extends TestCase
     {
         $category = 'test.category1';
         $message = 'test message';
-        $sourceFileContent = "Yii::t('{$category}', '{$message}');";
+        $message2 = 'test message 2';
+        $sourceFileContent = "Yii::t('{$category}', '{$message}');\n\Yii::t('{$category}', '{$message2}');";
         $this->createSourceFile($sourceFileContent);
 
         $this->saveConfigFile($this->getConfig());
@@ -178,6 +179,7 @@ abstract class BaseMessageControllerTest extends TestCase
 
         $messages = $this->loadMessages($category);
         $this->assertArrayHasKey($message, $messages, "\"$message\" is missing in translation file. Command output:\n\n" . $out);
+        $this->assertArrayHasKey($message2, $messages, "\"$message2\" is missing in translation file. Command output:\n\n" . $out);
     }
 
     /**