diff --git a/lib/query.js b/lib/query.js
index 04c9abae895..25cff60d9be 100644
--- a/lib/query.js
+++ b/lib/query.js
@@ -290,7 +290,6 @@ Query.prototype._applyPaths = function applyPaths () {
     ki = keys.length;
 
     while (ki--) {
-      if ('_id' == keys[ki]) continue;
       exclude = 0 === fields[keys[ki]];
       break;
     }