diff --git a/lib/model.js b/lib/model.js
index 114ec86fec5..a94e3caff64 100644
--- a/lib/model.js
+++ b/lib/model.js
@@ -1235,6 +1235,7 @@ Model.discriminator = function(name, schema, options) {
   const value = utils.isPOJO(options) ? options.value : options;
   const clone = typeof options.clone === 'boolean' ? options.clone : true;
   const mergePlugins = typeof options.mergePlugins === 'boolean' ? options.mergePlugins : true;
+  const overwriteModels = typeof options.overwriteModels === 'boolean' ? options.overwriteModels : false;
 
   _checkContext(this, 'discriminator');
 
@@ -1245,8 +1246,8 @@ Model.discriminator = function(name, schema, options) {
     schema = schema.clone();
   }
 
-  schema = discriminator(this, name, schema, value, mergePlugins, options.mergeHooks);
-  if (this.db.models[name] && !schema.options.overwriteModels) {
+  schema = discriminator(this, name, schema, value, mergePlugins, options.mergeHooks, overwriteModels);
+  if (this.db.models[name] && !schema.options.overwriteModels && !overwriteModels) {
     throw new OverwriteModelError(name);
   }