diff --git a/types/query.d.ts b/types/query.d.ts
index 44d9a71062f..5784987882d 100644
--- a/types/query.d.ts
+++ b/types/query.d.ts
@@ -115,8 +115,9 @@ declare module 'mongoose' {
     /** @see https://www.mongodb.com/docs/manual/reference/operator/query/comment/#op._S_comment */
     $comment?: string;
     // we could not find a proper TypeScript generic to support nested queries e.g. 'user.friends.name'
-    // this will mark all unrecognized properties as any (including nested queries)
-    [key: string]: any;
+    // this will mark all unrecognized properties as any (including nested queries) only if
+    // they include a "." (to avoid generically allowing any unexpected keys)
+    [nestedSelector: `${string}.${string}`]: any;
   };
 
   interface QueryTimestampsConfig {