diff --git a/lib/services/populate/getVirtual.js b/lib/services/populate/getVirtual.js
index b636e5d975d..1159e5310a0 100644
--- a/lib/services/populate/getVirtual.js
+++ b/lib/services/populate/getVirtual.js
@@ -29,18 +29,27 @@ function getVirtual(schema, name) {
 
     if (schema.paths[cur] && schema.paths[cur].schema) {
       schema = schema.paths[cur].schema;
+      const rest = parts.slice(i + 1).join('.');
 
-      if (i === parts.length - 2 && schema.discriminators) {
-        // Check for embedded discriminators, don't currently support populating
-        // nested virtuals underneath embedded discriminators because that will
-        // require substantial refactoring.
+      if (schema.virtuals[rest]) {
+        if (i === parts.length - 2) {
+          schema.virtuals[rest].$nestedSchemaPath =
+            [nestedSchemaPath, cur].filter(v => !!v).join('.');
+          return schema.virtuals[rest];
+        }
+        continue;
+      }
+
+      if (i + 1 < parts.length && schema.discriminators) {
         for (let key of Object.keys(schema.discriminators)) {
-          const discriminatorSchema = schema.discriminators[key];
-          let _cur = parts[i + 1];
-          if (discriminatorSchema.virtuals[_cur]) {
-            discriminatorSchema.virtuals[_cur].$nestedSchemaPath =
-              (nestedSchemaPath.length > 0 ? nestedSchemaPath + '.' : '') + cur;
-            return discriminatorSchema.virtuals[_cur];
+          const _virtual = getVirtual(schema.discriminators[key], rest);
+          if (_virtual != null) {
+            _virtual.$nestedSchemaPath = [
+              nestedSchemaPath,
+              cur,
+              _virtual.$nestedSchemaPath
+            ].filter(v => !!v).join('.');
+            return _virtual;
           }
         }
       }