diff --git a/lib/helpers/populate/getModelsMapForPopulate.js b/lib/helpers/populate/getModelsMapForPopulate.js
index 07e44587d7..37491964f8 100644
--- a/lib/helpers/populate/getModelsMapForPopulate.js
+++ b/lib/helpers/populate/getModelsMapForPopulate.js
@@ -180,6 +180,7 @@ module.exports = function getModelsMapForPopulate(model, docs, options) {
 
     let match = get(options, 'match', null) ||
       get(currentOptions, 'match', null) ||
+      get(options, 'virtual.options.match', null) ||
       get(options, 'virtual.options.options.match', null);
 
     const hasMatchFunction = typeof match === 'function';