diff --git a/mongoengine/base/document.py b/mongoengine/base/document.py
index e8232a0e..f1c1d55f 100644
--- a/mongoengine/base/document.py
+++ b/mongoengine/base/document.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import numbers
 from functools import partial
 
 import pymongo
-from bson import json_util
+from bson import json_util, ObjectId
 from bson.dbref import DBRef
 from bson.son import SON
 
@@ -454,7 +454,7 @@ class BaseDocument(object):
                 d = doc
                 new_path = []
                 for p in parts:
-                    if isinstance(d, DBRef):
+                    if isinstance(d, (ObjectId, DBRef)):
                         break
                     elif isinstance(d, list) and p.isdigit():
                         d = d[int(p)]
diff --git a/tests/document/delta.py b/tests/document/delta.py
index 3656d9e3..c6efc028 100644
--- a/tests/document/delta.py
+++ b/tests/document/delta.py
@@ -313,17 +313,17 @@ class DeltaTest(unittest.TestCase):
         self.circular_reference_deltas_2(DynamicDocument, Document)
         self.circular_reference_deltas_2(DynamicDocument, DynamicDocument)
 
-    def circular_reference_deltas_2(self, DocClass1, DocClass2):
+    def circular_reference_deltas_2(self, DocClass1, DocClass2, dbref=True):
 
         class Person(DocClass1):
             name = StringField()
-            owns = ListField(ReferenceField('Organization'))
-            employer = ReferenceField('Organization')
+            owns = ListField(ReferenceField('Organization', dbref=dbref))
+            employer = ReferenceField('Organization', dbref=dbref)
 
         class Organization(DocClass2):
             name = StringField()
-            owner = ReferenceField('Person')
-            employees = ListField(ReferenceField('Person'))
+            owner = ReferenceField('Person', dbref=dbref)
+            employees = ListField(ReferenceField('Person', dbref=dbref))
 
         Person.drop_collection()
         Organization.drop_collection()
@@ -355,6 +355,8 @@ class DeltaTest(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(o.owner, p)
         self.assertEqual(e.employer, o)
 
+        return person, organization, employee
+
     def test_delta_db_field(self):
         self.delta_db_field(Document)
         self.delta_db_field(DynamicDocument)
@@ -686,6 +688,29 @@ class DeltaTest(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(doc._get_changed_fields(), ['list_field'])
         self.assertEqual(doc._delta(), ({}, {'list_field': 1}))
 
+    def test_delta_with_dbref_true(self):
+        person, organization, employee = self.circular_reference_deltas_2(Document, Document, True)
+        employee.name = 'test'
+
+        self.assertEqual(organization._get_changed_fields(), ['employees.0.name'])
+
+        updates, removals = organization._delta()
+        self.assertEqual({}, removals)
+        self.assertTrue('employees.0' in updates)
+
+        organization.save()
+
+    def test_delta_with_dbref_false(self):
+        person, organization, employee = self.circular_reference_deltas_2(Document, Document, False)
+        employee.name = 'test'
+
+        self.assertEqual(organization._get_changed_fields(), ['employees.0.name'])
+
+        updates, removals = organization._delta()
+        self.assertEqual({}, removals)
+        self.assertTrue('employees.0' in updates)
+
+        organization.save()
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     unittest.main()