diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 685c8500b1..de36d3a884 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,13 @@
+8.9.4 / 2025-01-09
+==================
+ * fix(document): fix document not applying manual populate when using a function in schema.options.ref #15138 [IchirokuXVI](https://github.com/IchirokuXVI)
+ * fix(model): make Model.validate() static correctly cast document arrays #15169 #15164
+ * fix(model): allow passing validateBeforeSave option to bulkSave() to skip validation #15161 #15156
+ * fix(schema): allow multiple self-referencing discriminator schemas using Schema.prototype.discriminator #15142 #15120
+ * types: avoid BufferToBinary<> wiping lean types when passed to generic functions #15160 #15158
+ * docs: fix `<code>` in header ids #15159
+ * docs: fix header in field-level-encryption.md #15137 [damieng](https://github.com/damieng)
+
 8.9.3 / 2024-12-30
 ==================
  * fix(schema): make duplicate index error a warning for now to prevent blocking upgrading #15135 #15112 #15109
@@ -1109,7 +1119,7 @@
  * 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)
@@ -1138,7 +1148,7 @@
  * 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/model.js b/lib/model.js
index addbd1b3bf..bd0490aae3 100644
--- a/lib/model.js
+++ b/lib/model.js
@@ -3806,8 +3806,9 @@ Model.castObject = function castObject(obj, options) {
             Model.castObject.call(schemaType.caster, val)
           ];
         }
+
+        continue;
       }
-      continue;
     }
     if (schemaType.$isSingleNested || schemaType.$isMongooseDocumentArrayElement) {
       try {
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index bcb729e3d7..453705f05e 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "mongoose",
   "description": "Mongoose MongoDB ODM",
-  "version": "8.9.3",
+  "version": "8.9.4",
   "author": "Guillermo Rauch <guillermo@learnboost.com>",
   "keywords": [
     "mongodb",
diff --git a/test/model.test.js b/test/model.test.js
index be87e5a438..b15a590e1f 100644
--- a/test/model.test.js
+++ b/test/model.test.js
@@ -7818,6 +7818,29 @@ describe('Model', function() {
       const obj = { sampleArray: { name: 'Taco' } };
       assert.throws(() => Test.castObject(obj), /Tried to set nested object field `sampleArray` to primitive value/);
     });
+    it('handles document arrays (gh-15164)', function() {
+      const barSchema = new mongoose.Schema({
+        foo: {
+          type: mongoose.Schema.Types.String,
+          required: true
+        }
+      }, { _id: false });
+
+      const fooSchema = new mongoose.Schema({
+        bars: {
+          type: [barSchema],
+          required: true
+        }
+      });
+
+      const Test = db.model('Test', fooSchema);
+
+      let obj = Test.castObject({ bars: [] });
+      assert.deepStrictEqual(obj.bars, []);
+
+      obj = Test.castObject({ bars: [{ foo: 'bar' }] });
+      assert.deepStrictEqual(obj.bars, [{ foo: 'bar' }]);
+    });
   });
 
   it('works if passing class that extends Document to `loadClass()` (gh-12254)', async function() {