diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index ad815c10b9..5b29da9c26 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+6.13.6 / 2025-01-13
+===================
+ * fix: disallow nested $where in populate match
+
 7.8.3 / 2024-11-26
 ==================
  * fix: disallow using $where in match
@@ -646,7 +650,7 @@
  * fix(document): isModified should not be triggered when setting a nested boolean to the same value as previously #12994 [lpizzinidev](https://github.com/lpizzinidev)
  * fix(document): save newly set defaults underneath single nested subdocuments #13002 #12905
  * fix(update): handle custom discriminator model name when casting update #12947 [wassil](https://github.com/wassil)
- * fix(connection): handles unique autoincrement ID for connections #12990 [lpizzinidev](https://github.com/lpizzinidev) 
+ * fix(connection): handles unique autoincrement ID for connections #12990 [lpizzinidev](https://github.com/lpizzinidev)
  * fix(types): fix type of options of Model.aggregate #12933 [ghost91-](https://github.com/ghost91-)
  * fix(types): fix "near" aggregation operator input type #12954 [Jokero](https://github.com/Jokero)
  * fix(types): add missing Top operator to AccumulatorOperator type declaration #12952 [lpizzinidev](https://github.com/lpizzinidev)
@@ -675,7 +679,7 @@
  * docs(typescript): add notes about virtual context to Mongoose 6 migration and TypeScript virtuals docs #12912 #12806
  * docs(schematypes): removed dead link and fixed formatting #12897 #12885 [lpizzinidev](https://github.com/lpizzinidev)
  * docs: fix link to lean api #12910 [manniL](https://github.com/manniL)
- * docs: list all possible strings for schema.pre in one place #12868 
+ * docs: list all possible strings for schema.pre in one place #12868
  * docs: add list of known incompatible npm packages #12892 [IslandRhythms](https://github.com/IslandRhythms)
 
 6.8.3 / 2023-01-06
diff --git a/lib/helpers/populate/getModelsMapForPopulate.js b/lib/helpers/populate/getModelsMapForPopulate.js
index 90d801951f..679e96424f 100644
--- a/lib/helpers/populate/getModelsMapForPopulate.js
+++ b/lib/helpers/populate/getModelsMapForPopulate.js
@@ -184,15 +184,7 @@ module.exports = function getModelsMapForPopulate(model, docs, options) {
     if (hasMatchFunction) {
       match = match.call(doc, doc);
     }
-    if (Array.isArray(match)) {
-      for (const item of match) {
-        if (item != null && item.$where) {
-          throw new MongooseError('Cannot use $where filter with populate() match');
-        }
-      }
-    } else if (match != null && match.$where != null) {
-      throw new MongooseError('Cannot use $where filter with populate() match');
-    }
+    throwOn$where(match);
     data.match = match;
     data.hasMatchFunction = hasMatchFunction;
     data.isRefPath = isRefPath;
@@ -470,15 +462,7 @@ function _virtualPopulate(model, docs, options, _virtualRes) {
     data.match = match;
     data.hasMatchFunction = hasMatchFunction;
 
-    if (Array.isArray(match)) {
-      for (const item of match) {
-        if (item != null && item.$where) {
-          throw new MongooseError('Cannot use $where filter with populate() match');
-        }
-      }
-    } else if (match != null && match.$where != null) {
-      throw new MongooseError('Cannot use $where filter with populate() match');
-    }
+    throwOn$where(match);
 
     // Get local fields
     const ret = _getLocalFieldValues(doc, localField, model, options, virtual);
@@ -751,3 +735,24 @@ function _findRefPathForDiscriminators(doc, modelSchema, data, options, normaliz
 
   return modelNames;
 }
+
+/**
+ * Throw an error if there are any $where keys
+ */
+
+function throwOn$where(match) {
+  if (match == null) {
+    return;
+  }
+  if (typeof match !== 'object') {
+    return;
+  }
+  for (const key of Object.keys(match)) {
+    if (key === '$where') {
+      throw new MongooseError('Cannot use $where filter with populate() match');
+    }
+    if (match[key] != null && typeof match[key] === 'object') {
+      throwOn$where(match[key]);
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/test/model.populate.test.js b/test/model.populate.test.js
index 9b49e8dc88..bf58c1db35 100644
--- a/test/model.populate.test.js
+++ b/test/model.populate.test.js
@@ -3582,21 +3582,34 @@ describe('model: populate:', function() {
         const parent = await Parent.create({ name: 'Anakin', child: child._id });
 
         await assert.rejects(
-          () => Parent.findOne().populate({ path: 'child', match: { $where: 'console.log("oops!");' } }),
+          () => Parent.findOne().populate({ path: 'child', match: () => ({ $where: 'typeof console !== "undefined" ? doesNotExist("foo") : true;' }) }),
           /Cannot use \$where filter with populate\(\) match/
         );
         await assert.rejects(
-          () => Parent.find().populate({ path: 'child', match: { $where: 'console.log("oops!");' } }),
+          () => Parent.find().populate({ path: 'child', match: () => ({ $where: 'typeof console !== "undefined" ? doesNotExist("foo") : true;' }) }),
           /Cannot use \$where filter with populate\(\) match/
         );
         await assert.rejects(
-          () => parent.populate({ path: 'child', match: { $where: 'console.log("oops!");' } }),
+          () => parent.populate({ path: 'child', match: () => ({ $where: 'typeof console !== "undefined" ? doesNotExist("foo") : true;' }) }),
           /Cannot use \$where filter with populate\(\) match/
         );
         await assert.rejects(
-          () => Child.find().populate({ path: 'parent', match: { $where: 'console.log("oops!");' } }),
+          () => Child.find().populate({ path: 'parent', match: () => ({ $where: 'typeof console !== "undefined" ? doesNotExist("foo") : true;' }) }),
           /Cannot use \$where filter with populate\(\) match/
         );
+        await assert.rejects(
+          () => Child.find().populate({ path: 'parent', match: () => ({ $or: [{ $where: 'typeof console !== "undefined" ? doesNotExist("foo") : true;' }] }) }),
+          /Cannot use \$where filter with populate\(\) match/
+        );
+        await assert.rejects(
+          () => Child.find().populate({ path: 'parent', match: () => ({ $and: [{ $where: 'typeof console !== "undefined" ? doesNotExist("foo") : true;' }] }) }),
+          /Cannot use \$where filter with populate\(\) match/
+        );
+
+        class MyClass {}
+        MyClass.prototype.$where = 'typeof console !== "undefined" ? doesNotExist("foo") : true;';
+        // OK because sift only looks through own properties
+        await Child.find().populate({ path: 'parent', match: () => new MyClass() });
       });
 
       it('multiple source docs', async function() {