diff --git a/lib/waterline/utils/query/forge-stage-two-query.js b/lib/waterline/utils/query/forge-stage-two-query.js
index 6fd6ea1f6..e48ecfde6 100644
--- a/lib/waterline/utils/query/forge-stage-two-query.js
+++ b/lib/waterline/utils/query/forge-stage-two-query.js
@@ -873,28 +873,47 @@ module.exports = function forgeStageTwoQuery(query, orm) {
         if (_.isEqual(query.populates[populateAttrName], {})) {
           query.populates[populateAttrName] = true;
         }
-        // Otherwise, this simply must be `true`.  Otherwise it's invalid.
+        // Otherwise, this must either be `true` or a valid subcriteria containing only `omit` or `select`.
         else {
-
-          if (query.populates[populateAttrName] !== true) {
+          // Only allow a plain dictionary with just `select` and/or `omit`.
+          // Anything else isn't valid for a singular ("model") association.
+          if (query.populates[populateAttrName] !== true && !(
+            _.isPlainObject(query.populates[populateAttrName]) &&
+            _.difference(Object.keys(query.populates[populateAttrName]), ['select', 'omit']).length === 0
+          )) {
             throw buildUsageError(
-              'E_INVALID_POPULATES',
-              'Could not populate `'+populateAttrName+'`.  '+
-              'This is a singular ("model") association, which means it never refers to '+
-              'more than _one_ associated record.  So passing in subcriteria (i.e. as '+
-              'the second argument to `.populate()`) is not supported for this association, '+
-              'since it generally wouldn\'t make any sense.  But that\'s the trouble-- it '+
-              'looks like some sort of a subcriteria (or something) _was_ provided!\n'+
-              '(Note that subcriterias consisting ONLY of `omit` or `select` are a special '+
-              'case that _does_ make sense.  This usage will be supported in a future version '+
-              'of Waterline.)\n'+
-              '\n'+
-              'Here\'s what was passed in:\n'+
-              util.inspect(query.populates[populateAttrName], {depth: 5}),
-              query.using
+                'E_INVALID_POPULATES',
+                'Could not populate `'+populateAttrName+'`.  '+
+                'This is a singular ("model") association, which means it never refers to '+
+                'more than _one_ associated record.  So passing in subcriteria (i.e. as '+
+                'the second argument to `.populate()`) is not supported for this association, '+
+                'since it generally wouldn\'t make any sense.  But that\'s the trouble-- it '+
+                'looks like some sort of a subcriteria (or something) _was_ provided!\n'+
+                '(Note that subcriterias consisting ONLY of `omit` or `select` are a special '+
+                'case that _does_ make sense.\n'+
+                '\n'+
+                'Here\'s what was passed in:\n'+
+                util.inspect(query.populates[populateAttrName], {depth: 5}),
+                query.using
             );
           }//-•
 
+          // Ensure that only `select` or `omit` is provided, but not both.
+          if (_.isPlainObject(query.populates[populateAttrName]) &&
+              query.populates[populateAttrName].select &&
+              query.populates[populateAttrName].omit) {
+            throw buildUsageError(
+                'E_INVALID_POPULATES',
+                'Could not populate `'+populateAttrName+'`.  '+
+                'This is a singular ("model") association, and while subcriterias consisting '+
+                'ONLY of `omit` or `select` are supported, providing both `select` AND `omit` '+
+                'at the same time is not allowed.\n'+
+                '\n'+
+                'Here\'s what was passed in:\n'+
+                util.inspect(query.populates[populateAttrName], {depth: 5}),
+                query.using
+            );
+          }//-•
         }//>-•
 
       }
diff --git a/test/unit/query/associations/populateArray.js b/test/unit/query/associations/populateArray.js
index 28a079993..b8c77239a 100644
--- a/test/unit/query/associations/populateArray.js
+++ b/test/unit/query/associations/populateArray.js
@@ -123,5 +123,65 @@ describe('Collection Query ::', function() {
         return done();
       });
     });
+
+    it('should allow populate with select subcriteria for singular associations', function(done) {
+      Car.find()
+      .populate('driver', {
+        select: ['name']
+      })
+      .exec(function(err, car) {
+        if (err) {
+          return done(err);
+        }
+
+        assert(car[0].driver);
+        assert(car[0].driver.name);
+        return done();
+      });
+    });
+
+    it('should allow populate with omit subcriteria for singular associations', function(done) {
+      Car.find()
+      .populate('driver', {
+        omit: ['car']
+      })
+      .exec(function(err, car) {
+        if (err) {
+          return done(err);
+        }
+
+        assert(car[0].driver);
+        assert(car[0].driver.name);
+        return done();
+      });
+    });
+
+    it('should allow populate with empty object (converts to true)', function(done) {
+      Car.find()
+      .populate('driver', {})
+      .exec(function(err, car) {
+        if (err) {
+          return done(err);
+        }
+
+        assert(car[0].driver);
+        assert(car[0].driver.name);
+        return done();
+      });
+    });
+
+    it('should throw error when both select and omit are provided together', function(done) {
+      Car.find()
+      .populate('driver', {
+        select: ['name'],
+        omit: ['id']
+      })
+      .exec(function(err, car) {
+        assert(err);
+        assert.equal(err.code, 'E_INVALID_POPULATES');
+        assert(err.message.indexOf('providing both `select` AND `omit`') > -1);
+        return done();
+      });
+    });
   });
 });