diff --git a/mongoengine/base/document.py b/mongoengine/base/document.py
index e44ec2c9..6a4c6bd9 100644
--- a/mongoengine/base/document.py
+++ b/mongoengine/base/document.py
@@ -2,9 +2,7 @@ import copy
 import numbers
 from functools import partial
 
-from bson import ObjectId, json_util
-from bson.dbref import DBRef
-from bson.son import SON
+from bson import DBRef, ObjectId, SON, json_util
 import pymongo
 import six
 
diff --git a/mongoengine/dereference.py b/mongoengine/dereference.py
index 44266613..619b5d1f 100644
--- a/mongoengine/dereference.py
+++ b/mongoengine/dereference.py
@@ -52,26 +52,40 @@ class DeReference(object):
                         [i.__class__ == doc_type for i in items.values()]):
                     return items
                 elif not field.dbref:
+                    # We must turn the ObjectIds into DBRefs
+
+                    # Recursively dig into the sub items of a list/dict
+                    # to turn the ObjectIds into DBRefs
+                    def _get_items_from_list(items):
+                        new_items = []
+                        for v in items:
+                            value = v
+                            if isinstance(v, dict):
+                                value = _get_items_from_dict(v)
+                            elif isinstance(v, list):
+                                value = _get_items_from_list(v)
+                            elif not isinstance(v, (DBRef, Document)):
+                                value = field.to_python(v)
+                            new_items.append(value)
+                        return new_items
+
+                    def _get_items_from_dict(items):
+                        new_items = {}
+                        for k, v in items.iteritems():
+                            value = v
+                            if isinstance(v, list):
+                                value = _get_items_from_list(v)
+                            elif isinstance(v, dict):
+                                value = _get_items_from_dict(v)
+                            elif not isinstance(v, (DBRef, Document)):
+                                value = field.to_python(v)
+                            new_items[k] = value
+                        return new_items
+
                     if not hasattr(items, 'items'):
-
-                        def _get_items(items):
-                            new_items = []
-                            for v in items:
-                                if isinstance(v, list):
-                                    new_items.append(_get_items(v))
-                                elif not isinstance(v, (DBRef, Document)):
-                                    new_items.append(field.to_python(v))
-                                else:
-                                    new_items.append(v)
-                            return new_items
-
-                        items = _get_items(items)
+                        items = _get_items_from_list(items)
                     else:
-                        items = {
-                            k: (v if isinstance(v, (DBRef, Document))
-                                else field.to_python(v))
-                            for k, v in items.iteritems()
-                        }
+                        items = _get_items_from_dict(items)
 
         self.reference_map = self._find_references(items)
         self.object_map = self._fetch_objects(doc_type=doc_type)
diff --git a/tests/fields/fields.py b/tests/fields/fields.py
index a1b586ce..0f325849 100644
--- a/tests/fields/fields.py
+++ b/tests/fields/fields.py
@@ -1853,6 +1853,48 @@ class FieldTest(MongoDBTestCase):
         with self.assertRaises(ValueError):
             e.update(set__mapping={"somestrings": ["foo", "bar", ]})
 
+    def test_dictfield_with_referencefield_complex_nesting_cases(self):
+        """Ensure complex nesting inside DictField handles dereferencing of ReferenceField(dbref=True | False)"""
+        # Relates to Issue #1453
+        class Doc(Document):
+            s = StringField()
+
+        class Simple(Document):
+            mapping0 = DictField(ReferenceField(Doc, dbref=True))
+            mapping1 = DictField(ReferenceField(Doc, dbref=False))
+            mapping2 = DictField(ListField(ReferenceField(Doc, dbref=True)))
+            mapping3 = DictField(ListField(ReferenceField(Doc, dbref=False)))
+            mapping4 = DictField(DictField(field=ReferenceField(Doc, dbref=True)))
+            mapping5 = DictField(DictField(field=ReferenceField(Doc, dbref=False)))
+            mapping6 = DictField(ListField(DictField(ReferenceField(Doc, dbref=True))))
+            mapping7 = DictField(ListField(DictField(ReferenceField(Doc, dbref=False))))
+            mapping8 = DictField(ListField(DictField(ListField(ReferenceField(Doc, dbref=True)))))
+            mapping9 = DictField(ListField(DictField(ListField(ReferenceField(Doc, dbref=False)))))
+
+        Doc.drop_collection()
+        Simple.drop_collection()
+
+        d = Doc(s='aa').save()
+        e = Simple()
+        e.mapping0['someint'] = e.mapping1['someint'] = d
+        e.mapping2['someint'] = e.mapping3['someint'] = [d]
+        e.mapping4['someint'] = e.mapping5['someint'] = {'d': d}
+        e.mapping6['someint'] = e.mapping7['someint'] = [{'d': d}]
+        e.mapping8['someint'] = e.mapping9['someint'] = [{'d': [d]}]
+        e.save()
+
+        s = Simple.objects.first()
+        self.assertIsInstance(s.mapping0['someint'], Doc)
+        self.assertIsInstance(s.mapping1['someint'], Doc)
+        self.assertIsInstance(s.mapping2['someint'][0], Doc)
+        self.assertIsInstance(s.mapping3['someint'][0], Doc)
+        self.assertIsInstance(s.mapping4['someint']['d'], Doc)
+        self.assertIsInstance(s.mapping5['someint']['d'], Doc)
+        self.assertIsInstance(s.mapping6['someint'][0]['d'], Doc)
+        self.assertIsInstance(s.mapping7['someint'][0]['d'], Doc)
+        self.assertIsInstance(s.mapping8['someint'][0]['d'][0], Doc)
+        self.assertIsInstance(s.mapping9['someint'][0]['d'][0], Doc)
+
     def test_mapfield(self):
         """Ensure that the MapField handles the declared type."""
         class Simple(Document):