diff --git a/lib/document.js b/lib/document.js
index 87e491bd52c..845b6b3add3 100644
--- a/lib/document.js
+++ b/lib/document.js
@@ -4418,7 +4418,7 @@ Document.prototype.$populated = Document.prototype.populated;
  *     doc.$assertPopulated('other path'); // throws an error
  *
  *
- * @param {String|String[]} paths
+ * @param {String|String[]} path
  * @return {Document} this
  * @memberOf Document
  * @method $assertPopulated
@@ -4426,14 +4426,18 @@ Document.prototype.$populated = Document.prototype.populated;
  * @api public
  */
 
-Document.prototype.$assertPopulated = function $assertPopulated(paths) {
-  if (Array.isArray(paths)) {
-    paths.forEach(path => this.$assertPopulated(path));
+Document.prototype.$assertPopulated = function $assertPopulated(path, values) {
+  if (Array.isArray(path)) {
+    path.forEach(p => this.$assertPopulated(p, values));
     return this;
   }
 
-  if (!this.$populated(paths)) {
-    throw new MongooseError(`Expected path "${paths}" to be populated`);
+  if (arguments.length > 1) {
+    this.$set(values);
+  }
+
+  if (!this.$populated(path)) {
+    throw new MongooseError(`Expected path "${path}" to be populated`);
   }
 
   return this;
diff --git a/types/document.d.ts b/types/document.d.ts
index 659db51c10b..897527c45ca 100644
--- a/types/document.d.ts
+++ b/types/document.d.ts
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ declare module 'mongoose' {
     __v?: any;
 
     /** Assert that a given path or paths is populated. Throws an error if not populated. */
-    $assertPopulated<Paths = {}>(paths: string | string[]): Omit<this, keyof Paths> & Paths;
+    $assertPopulated<Paths = {}>(path: string | string[], values?: Partial<Paths>): Omit<this, keyof Paths> & Paths;
 
     /* Get all subdocs (by bfs) */
     $getAllSubdocs(): Document[];