diff --git a/mongoengine/base/datastructures.py b/mongoengine/base/datastructures.py
index a3561b8b1..a175cd119 100644
--- a/mongoengine/base/datastructures.py
+++ b/mongoengine/base/datastructures.py
@@ -113,7 +113,11 @@ def __init__(self, list_items, instance, name):
         BaseDocument = _import_class("BaseDocument")
 
         if isinstance(instance, BaseDocument):
-            self._instance = weakref.proxy(instance)
+            if isinstance(instance, weakref.ProxyTypes):
+                self._instance = instance
+            else:
+                self._instance = weakref.proxy(instance)
+
         self._name = name
         super().__init__(list_items)
 
@@ -186,10 +190,6 @@ def _mark_as_changed(self, key=None):
 
 
 class EmbeddedDocumentList(BaseList):
-    def __init__(self, list_items, instance, name):
-        super().__init__(list_items, instance, name)
-        self._instance = instance
-
     @classmethod
     def __match_all(cls, embedded_doc, kwargs):
         """Return True if a given embedded doc matches all the filter
diff --git a/tests/fields/test_embedded_document_field.py b/tests/fields/test_embedded_document_field.py
index fefee4efd..a892c0dcd 100644
--- a/tests/fields/test_embedded_document_field.py
+++ b/tests/fields/test_embedded_document_field.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import weakref
 from copy import deepcopy
 
 import pytest
@@ -62,6 +63,36 @@ class MyFailingDoc(Document):
             class MyFailingdoc2(Document):
                 emb = EmbeddedDocumentField("MyDoc")
 
+    def test_embedded_document_list_field__has__instance_weakref(self):
+        class Comment(EmbeddedDocument):
+            content = StringField()
+
+        class Post(Document):
+            title = StringField()
+            comment = EmbeddedDocumentField(Comment)
+            comments = EmbeddedDocumentListField(Comment)
+            comments2 = ListField(EmbeddedDocumentField(Comment))
+
+        Post.drop_collection()
+
+        for i in range(5):
+            Post(
+                title=f"{i}",
+                comment=Comment(content=f"{i}"),
+                comments=[Comment(content=f"{i}")],
+                comments2=[Comment(content=f"{i}")],
+            ).save()
+
+        posts = list(Post.objects)
+        for post in posts:
+            assert isinstance(post.comments._instance, weakref.ProxyTypes)
+            assert isinstance(post.comments2._instance, weakref.ProxyTypes)
+            assert isinstance(post.comment._instance, weakref.ProxyTypes)
+            for comment in post.comments:
+                assert isinstance(comment._instance, weakref.ProxyTypes)
+            for comment2 in post.comments2:
+                assert isinstance(comment2._instance, weakref.ProxyTypes)
+
     def test_embedded_document_field_validate_subclass(self):
         class BaseItem(EmbeddedDocument):
             f = IntField()