diff --git a/lib/schema.js b/lib/schema.js
index 9c462c1f914..64a35286c06 100644
--- a/lib/schema.js
+++ b/lib/schema.js
@@ -938,6 +938,11 @@ Schema.prototype.interpretAsType = function(path, obj, options) {
         if (options.hasOwnProperty('strict')) {
           childSchemaOptions.strict = options.strict;
         }
+        if (this._userProvidedOptions.hasOwnProperty('_id')) {
+          childSchemaOptions._id = this._userProvidedOptions._id;
+        } else if (Schema.Types.DocumentArray.defaultOptions._id != null) {
+          childSchemaOptions._id = Schema.Types.DocumentArray.defaultOptions._id;
+        }
         const childSchema = new Schema(cast, childSchemaOptions);
         childSchema.$implicitlyCreated = true;
         return new MongooseTypes.DocumentArray(path, childSchema, obj);