diff --git a/lib/schema.js b/lib/schema.js
index ba8435e0e66..4a3f68e03ae 100644
--- a/lib/schema.js
+++ b/lib/schema.js
@@ -2409,8 +2409,15 @@ Schema.prototype._getSchema = function(path) {
           if (p + 1 >= parts.length) {
             return foundschema.$__schemaType;
           }
-          const ret = search(parts.slice(p + 1), foundschema.$__schemaType.schema);
-          return ret;
+
+          if (foundschema.$__schemaType instanceof MongooseTypes.Mixed) {
+            return foundschema.$__schemaType;
+          }
+          if (foundschema.$__schemaType.schema != null) {
+            // Map of docs
+            const ret = search(parts.slice(p + 1), foundschema.$__schemaType.schema);
+            return ret;
+          }
         }
 
         foundschema.$fullPath = resultPath.join('.');
diff --git a/test/schema.test.js b/test/schema.test.js
index 36368c58b2d..619df3dd7c9 100644
--- a/test/schema.test.js
+++ b/test/schema.test.js
@@ -2885,4 +2885,17 @@ describe('schema', function() {
     assert.equal(schema.path('num').instance, 'Decimal128');
     assert.equal(schema.path('num2').instance, 'Decimal128');
   });
+
+  it('_getSchema finds path underneath nested subdocument with map of mixed (gh-12530)', function() {
+    const schema = new Schema({
+      child: new Schema({
+        testMap: {
+          type: Map,
+          of: 'Mixed'
+        }
+      })
+    });
+
+    assert.equal(schema._getSchema('child.testMap.foo.bar').instance, 'Mixed');
+  });
 });