diff --git a/lib/mongoose.js b/lib/mongoose.js
index cfac2331ced..d487190e4b3 100644
--- a/lib/mongoose.js
+++ b/lib/mongoose.js
@@ -171,6 +171,14 @@ Mongoose.prototype.setDriver = function setDriver(driver) {
   }
   _mongoose.__driver = driver;
 
+  if (Array.isArray(driver.plugins)) {
+    for (const plugin of driver.plugins) {
+      if (typeof plugin === 'function') {
+        _mongoose.plugin(plugin);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
   const Connection = driver.Connection;
   const oldDefaultConnection = _mongoose.connections[0];
   _mongoose.connections = [new Connection(_mongoose)];
diff --git a/test/driver.test.js b/test/driver.test.js
index 9dffe1c520e..e5005ad13f8 100644
--- a/test/driver.test.js
+++ b/test/driver.test.js
@@ -34,10 +34,12 @@ describe('driver', function() {
     }
     const driver = {
       Collection,
-      Connection
+      Connection,
+      plugins: [foo]
     };
 
     m.setDriver(driver);
+    assert.deepStrictEqual(m.plugins.slice(mongoose.plugins.length), [[foo, undefined]]);
 
     await m.connect();
 
@@ -45,6 +47,8 @@ describe('driver', function() {
 
     const res = await Test.findOne();
     assert.deepEqual(res.toObject(), { answer: 42 });
+
+    function foo() {}
   });
 
   it('multiple drivers (gh-12638)', async function() {