diff --git a/lib/document.js b/lib/document.js
index 498235955f..f7c83bceff 100644
--- a/lib/document.js
+++ b/lib/document.js
@@ -1668,7 +1668,7 @@ Document.prototype.$__path = function(path) {
   if (adhocType) {
     return adhocType;
   }
-  return this.schema.path(path);
+  return this.$__schema.path(path);
 };
 
 /**
@@ -3047,7 +3047,9 @@ Document.prototype.$__setSchema = function(schema) {
   for (const key of Object.keys(schema.virtuals)) {
     schema.virtuals[key]._applyDefaultGetters();
   }
-  this.schema = schema;
+  if (schema.path('schema') == null) {
+    this.schema = schema;
+  }
   this.$__schema = schema;
   this[documentSchemaSymbol] = schema;
 };