diff --git a/lib/drivers/node-mongodb-native/collection.js b/lib/drivers/node-mongodb-native/collection.js
index ae74dd1a880..5c5dd538e68 100644
--- a/lib/drivers/node-mongodb-native/collection.js
+++ b/lib/drivers/node-mongodb-native/collection.js
@@ -43,11 +43,9 @@ Object.setPrototypeOf(NativeCollection.prototype, MongooseCollection.prototype);
  */
 
 NativeCollection.prototype.onOpen = function() {
-  const _this = this;
-
-  _this.collection = _this.conn.db.collection(_this.name);
-  MongooseCollection.prototype.onOpen.call(_this);
-  return _this.collection;
+  this.collection = this.conn.db.collection(this.name);
+  MongooseCollection.prototype.onOpen.call(this);
+  return this.collection;
 };
 
 /**
@@ -60,6 +58,25 @@ NativeCollection.prototype.onClose = function(force) {
   MongooseCollection.prototype.onClose.call(this, force);
 };
 
+/**
+ * Helper to get the collection, in case `this.collection` isn't set yet.
+ * May happen if `bufferCommands` is false and created the model when
+ * Mongoose was disconnected.
+ *
+ * @api private
+ */
+
+NativeCollection.prototype._getCollection = function _getCollection() {
+  if (this.collection) {
+    return this.collection;
+  }
+  if (this.conn.db != null) {
+    this.collection = this.conn.db.collection(this.name);
+    return this.collection;
+  }
+  return null;
+};
+
 /*!
  * ignore
  */
@@ -74,7 +91,7 @@ const syncCollectionMethods = { watch: true, find: true, aggregate: true };
 
 function iter(i) {
   NativeCollection.prototype[i] = function() {
-    const collection = this.collection;
+    const collection = this._getCollection();
     const args = Array.from(arguments);
     const _this = this;
     const globalDebug = _this &&
diff --git a/test/connection.test.js b/test/connection.test.js
index fcb78b7fc95..2512ffb02db 100644
--- a/test/connection.test.js
+++ b/test/connection.test.js
@@ -1495,4 +1495,23 @@ describe('connections:', function() {
 
     assert.equal(m.connection.model('Test2'), Test2);
   });
+
+  it('creates collection if creating model while connection is disconnected with bufferCommands=false', async function() {
+    const m = new mongoose.Mongoose();
+    m.set('bufferCommands', false);
+    const conn = await m.createConnection(start.uri, { bufferCommands: false }).asPromise();
+    conn.client.emit('serverDescriptionChanged', { newDescription: { type: 'Unknown' } });
+
+    const Test = conn.model('Test', new Schema({ name: String }));
+
+    const [res] = await Promise.all([
+      Test.findOne().exec(),
+      new Promise.resolve(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 100)).then(() => {
+        conn.client.emit('serverDescriptionChanged', { newDescription: { type: 'Single' } });
+      })
+    ]);
+    assert.equal(res, null);
+
+    await m.disconnect();
+  });
 });