diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index 01f6c3236..887a67773 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ Development
     - make sure to read https://www.mongodb.com/docs/manual/core/transactions-in-applications/#callback-api-vs-core-api
     - run_in_transaction context manager relies on Pymongo coreAPI, it will retry automatically in case of `UnknownTransactionCommitResult` but not `TransientTransactionError` exceptions
     - Using .count() in a transaction will always use Collection.count_document (as estimated_document_count is not supported in transactions)
+- BREAKING CHANGE: wrap _document_registry (normally not used by end users) with _DocumentRegistry which acts as a singleton to access the registry
+- Log a warning in case users creates multiple Document classes with the same name as it can lead to unexpected behavior #1778
 - Fix use of $geoNear or $collStats in aggregate #2493
 - BREAKING CHANGE: Further to the deprecation warning, remove ability to use an unpacked list to `Queryset.aggregate(*pipeline)`, a plain list must be provided instead `Queryset.aggregate(pipeline)`, as it's closer to pymongo interface
 - BREAKING CHANGE: Further to the deprecation warning, remove `full_response` from `QuerySet.modify` as it wasn't supported with Pymongo 3+
@@ -21,6 +23,7 @@ Development
 - BREAKING CHANGE: Remove LongField as it's equivalent to IntField since we drop support to Python2 long time ago (User should simply switch to IntField) #2309
 - BugFix - Calling .clear on a ListField wasn't being marked as changed (and flushed to db upon .save()) #2858
 
+
 Changes in 0.29.0
 =================
 - Fix weakref in EmbeddedDocumentListField (causing brief mem leak in certain circumstances) #2827
diff --git a/mongoengine/base/__init__.py b/mongoengine/base/__init__.py
index dca0c4bb7..a2c88aae6 100644
--- a/mongoengine/base/__init__.py
+++ b/mongoengine/base/__init__.py
@@ -13,8 +13,7 @@
 __all__ = (
     # common
     "UPDATE_OPERATORS",
-    "_document_registry",
-    "get_document",
+    "_DocumentRegistry",
     # datastructures
     "BaseDict",
     "BaseList",
diff --git a/mongoengine/base/common.py b/mongoengine/base/common.py
index 85897324f..fe631a40e 100644
--- a/mongoengine/base/common.py
+++ b/mongoengine/base/common.py
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
+import warnings
+
 from mongoengine.errors import NotRegistered
 
-__all__ = ("UPDATE_OPERATORS", "get_document", "_document_registry")
+__all__ = ("UPDATE_OPERATORS", "_DocumentRegistry")
 
 
 UPDATE_OPERATORS = {
@@ -25,28 +27,57 @@
 _document_registry = {}
 
 
-def get_document(name):
-    """Get a registered Document class by name."""
-    doc = _document_registry.get(name, None)
-    if not doc:
-        # Possible old style name
-        single_end = name.split(".")[-1]
-        compound_end = ".%s" % single_end
-        possible_match = [
-            k for k in _document_registry if k.endswith(compound_end) or k == single_end
-        ]
-        if len(possible_match) == 1:
-            doc = _document_registry.get(possible_match.pop(), None)
-    if not doc:
-        raise NotRegistered(
-            """
-            `%s` has not been registered in the document registry.
-            Importing the document class automatically registers it, has it
-            been imported?
-        """.strip()
-            % name
-        )
-    return doc
+class _DocumentRegistry:
+    """Wrapper for the document registry (providing a singleton pattern).
+    This is part of MongoEngine's internals, not meant to be used directly by end-users
+    """
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def get(name):
+        doc = _document_registry.get(name, None)
+        if not doc:
+            # Possible old style name
+            single_end = name.split(".")[-1]
+            compound_end = ".%s" % single_end
+            possible_match = [
+                k
+                for k in _document_registry
+                if k.endswith(compound_end) or k == single_end
+            ]
+            if len(possible_match) == 1:
+                doc = _document_registry.get(possible_match.pop(), None)
+        if not doc:
+            raise NotRegistered(
+                """
+                `%s` has not been registered in the document registry.
+                Importing the document class automatically registers it, has it
+                been imported?
+            """.strip()
+                % name
+            )
+        return doc
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def register(DocCls):
+        ExistingDocCls = _document_registry.get(DocCls._class_name)
+        if (
+            ExistingDocCls is not None
+            and ExistingDocCls.__module__ != DocCls.__module__
+        ):
+            # A sign that a codebase may have named two different classes with the same name accidentally,
+            # this could cause issues with dereferencing because MongoEngine makes the assumption that a Document
+            # class name is unique.
+            warnings.warn(
+                f"Multiple Document classes named `{DocCls._class_name}` were registered, "
+                f"first from: `{ExistingDocCls.__module__}`, then from: `{DocCls.__module__}`. "
+                "this may lead to unexpected behavior during dereferencing.",
+                stacklevel=4,
+            )
+        _document_registry[DocCls._class_name] = DocCls
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def unregister(doc_cls_name):
+        _document_registry.pop(doc_cls_name)
 
 
 def _get_documents_by_db(connection_alias, default_connection_alias):
diff --git a/mongoengine/base/document.py b/mongoengine/base/document.py
index 00db2c218..ea3962ad7 100644
--- a/mongoengine/base/document.py
+++ b/mongoengine/base/document.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 from bson import SON, DBRef, ObjectId, json_util
 
 from mongoengine import signals
-from mongoengine.base.common import get_document
+from mongoengine.base.common import _DocumentRegistry
 from mongoengine.base.datastructures import (
     BaseDict,
     BaseList,
@@ -500,7 +500,7 @@ def __expand_dynamic_values(self, name, value):
         # If the value is a dict with '_cls' in it, turn it into a document
         is_dict = isinstance(value, dict)
         if is_dict and "_cls" in value:
-            cls = get_document(value["_cls"])
+            cls = _DocumentRegistry.get(value["_cls"])
             return cls(**value)
 
         if is_dict:
@@ -802,7 +802,7 @@ def _from_son(cls, son, _auto_dereference=True, created=False):
 
         # Return correct subclass for document type
         if class_name != cls._class_name:
-            cls = get_document(class_name)
+            cls = _DocumentRegistry.get(class_name)
 
         errors_dict = {}
 
diff --git a/mongoengine/base/metaclasses.py b/mongoengine/base/metaclasses.py
index a48bde959..a311aa167 100644
--- a/mongoengine/base/metaclasses.py
+++ b/mongoengine/base/metaclasses.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import itertools
 import warnings
 
-from mongoengine.base.common import _document_registry
+from mongoengine.base.common import _DocumentRegistry
 from mongoengine.base.fields import (
     BaseField,
     ComplexBaseField,
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ def __new__(mcs, name, bases, attrs):
             new_class._collection = None
 
         # Add class to the _document_registry
-        _document_registry[new_class._class_name] = new_class
+        _DocumentRegistry.register(new_class)
 
         # Handle delete rules
         for field in new_class._fields.values():
diff --git a/mongoengine/dereference.py b/mongoengine/dereference.py
index 1f4f7594c..38da2e873 100644
--- a/mongoengine/dereference.py
+++ b/mongoengine/dereference.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
     BaseList,
     EmbeddedDocumentList,
     TopLevelDocumentMetaclass,
-    get_document,
+    _DocumentRegistry,
 )
 from mongoengine.base.datastructures import LazyReference
 from mongoengine.connection import _get_session, get_db
@@ -131,9 +131,9 @@ def _find_references(self, items, depth=0):
                     elif isinstance(v, DBRef):
                         reference_map.setdefault(field.document_type, set()).add(v.id)
                     elif isinstance(v, (dict, SON)) and "_ref" in v:
-                        reference_map.setdefault(get_document(v["_cls"]), set()).add(
-                            v["_ref"].id
-                        )
+                        reference_map.setdefault(
+                            _DocumentRegistry.get(v["_cls"]), set()
+                        ).add(v["_ref"].id)
                     elif isinstance(v, (dict, list, tuple)) and depth <= self.max_depth:
                         field_cls = getattr(
                             getattr(field, "field", None), "document_type", None
@@ -151,9 +151,9 @@ def _find_references(self, items, depth=0):
             elif isinstance(item, DBRef):
                 reference_map.setdefault(item.collection, set()).add(item.id)
             elif isinstance(item, (dict, SON)) and "_ref" in item:
-                reference_map.setdefault(get_document(item["_cls"]), set()).add(
-                    item["_ref"].id
-                )
+                reference_map.setdefault(
+                    _DocumentRegistry.get(item["_cls"]), set()
+                ).add(item["_ref"].id)
             elif isinstance(item, (dict, list, tuple)) and depth - 1 <= self.max_depth:
                 references = self._find_references(item, depth - 1)
                 for key, refs in references.items():
@@ -198,9 +198,9 @@ def _fetch_objects(self, doc_type=None):
                     )
                     for ref in references:
                         if "_cls" in ref:
-                            doc = get_document(ref["_cls"])._from_son(ref)
+                            doc = _DocumentRegistry.get(ref["_cls"])._from_son(ref)
                         elif doc_type is None:
-                            doc = get_document(
+                            doc = _DocumentRegistry.get(
                                 "".join(x.capitalize() for x in collection.split("_"))
                             )._from_son(ref)
                         else:
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ def _attach_objects(self, items, depth=0, instance=None, name=None):
                     (items["_ref"].collection, items["_ref"].id), items
                 )
             elif "_cls" in items:
-                doc = get_document(items["_cls"])._from_son(items)
+                doc = _DocumentRegistry.get(items["_cls"])._from_son(items)
                 _cls = doc._data.pop("_cls", None)
                 del items["_cls"]
                 doc._data = self._attach_objects(doc._data, depth, doc, None)
diff --git a/mongoengine/document.py b/mongoengine/document.py
index 4907589e9..829c07135 100644
--- a/mongoengine/document.py
+++ b/mongoengine/document.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
     DocumentMetaclass,
     EmbeddedDocumentList,
     TopLevelDocumentMetaclass,
-    get_document,
+    _DocumentRegistry,
 )
 from mongoengine.base.utils import NonOrderedList
 from mongoengine.common import _import_class
@@ -851,12 +851,12 @@ def register_delete_rule(cls, document_cls, field_name, rule):
         object.
         """
         classes = [
-            get_document(class_name)
+            _DocumentRegistry.get(class_name)
             for class_name in cls._subclasses
             if class_name != cls.__name__
         ] + [cls]
         documents = [
-            get_document(class_name)
+            _DocumentRegistry.get(class_name)
             for class_name in document_cls._subclasses
             if class_name != document_cls.__name__
         ] + [document_cls]
diff --git a/mongoengine/fields.py b/mongoengine/fields.py
index c74539691..e9cf5b817 100644
--- a/mongoengine/fields.py
+++ b/mongoengine/fields.py
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
     GeoJsonBaseField,
     LazyReference,
     ObjectIdField,
-    get_document,
+    _DocumentRegistry,
 )
 from mongoengine.base.utils import LazyRegexCompiler
 from mongoengine.common import _import_class
@@ -725,7 +725,7 @@ def document_type(self):
             if self.document_type_obj == RECURSIVE_REFERENCE_CONSTANT:
                 resolved_document_type = self.owner_document
             else:
-                resolved_document_type = get_document(self.document_type_obj)
+                resolved_document_type = _DocumentRegistry.get(self.document_type_obj)
 
             if not issubclass(resolved_document_type, EmbeddedDocument):
                 # Due to the late resolution of the document_type
@@ -801,7 +801,7 @@ def prepare_query_value(self, op, value):
 
     def to_python(self, value):
         if isinstance(value, dict):
-            doc_cls = get_document(value["_cls"])
+            doc_cls = _DocumentRegistry.get(value["_cls"])
             value = doc_cls._from_son(value)
 
         return value
@@ -879,7 +879,7 @@ def to_mongo(self, value, use_db_field=True, fields=None):
 
     def to_python(self, value):
         if isinstance(value, dict) and "_cls" in value:
-            doc_cls = get_document(value["_cls"])
+            doc_cls = _DocumentRegistry.get(value["_cls"])
             if "_ref" in value:
                 value = doc_cls._get_db().dereference(
                     value["_ref"], session=_get_session()
@@ -1171,7 +1171,7 @@ def document_type(self):
             if self.document_type_obj == RECURSIVE_REFERENCE_CONSTANT:
                 self.document_type_obj = self.owner_document
             else:
-                self.document_type_obj = get_document(self.document_type_obj)
+                self.document_type_obj = _DocumentRegistry.get(self.document_type_obj)
         return self.document_type_obj
 
     @staticmethod
@@ -1195,7 +1195,7 @@ def __get__(self, instance, owner):
         if auto_dereference and isinstance(ref_value, DBRef):
             if hasattr(ref_value, "cls"):
                 # Dereference using the class type specified in the reference
-                cls = get_document(ref_value.cls)
+                cls = _DocumentRegistry.get(ref_value.cls)
             else:
                 cls = self.document_type
 
@@ -1335,7 +1335,7 @@ def document_type(self):
             if self.document_type_obj == RECURSIVE_REFERENCE_CONSTANT:
                 self.document_type_obj = self.owner_document
             else:
-                self.document_type_obj = get_document(self.document_type_obj)
+                self.document_type_obj = _DocumentRegistry.get(self.document_type_obj)
         return self.document_type_obj
 
     @staticmethod
@@ -1498,7 +1498,7 @@ def __get__(self, instance, owner):
 
         auto_dereference = instance._fields[self.name]._auto_dereference
         if auto_dereference and isinstance(value, dict):
-            doc_cls = get_document(value["_cls"])
+            doc_cls = _DocumentRegistry.get(value["_cls"])
             instance._data[self.name] = self._lazy_load_ref(doc_cls, value["_ref"])
 
         return super().__get__(instance, owner)
@@ -2443,7 +2443,7 @@ def document_type(self):
             if self.document_type_obj == RECURSIVE_REFERENCE_CONSTANT:
                 self.document_type_obj = self.owner_document
             else:
-                self.document_type_obj = get_document(self.document_type_obj)
+                self.document_type_obj = _DocumentRegistry.get(self.document_type_obj)
         return self.document_type_obj
 
     def build_lazyref(self, value):
@@ -2584,7 +2584,7 @@ def build_lazyref(self, value):
         elif value is not None:
             if isinstance(value, (dict, SON)):
                 value = LazyReference(
-                    get_document(value["_cls"]),
+                    _DocumentRegistry.get(value["_cls"]),
                     value["_ref"].id,
                     passthrough=self.passthrough,
                 )
diff --git a/mongoengine/queryset/base.py b/mongoengine/queryset/base.py
index aef996996..f04ef06c5 100644
--- a/mongoengine/queryset/base.py
+++ b/mongoengine/queryset/base.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 from pymongo.read_concern import ReadConcern
 
 from mongoengine import signals
-from mongoengine.base import get_document
+from mongoengine.base import _DocumentRegistry
 from mongoengine.common import _import_class
 from mongoengine.connection import _get_session, get_db
 from mongoengine.context_managers import (
@@ -1956,7 +1956,9 @@ def _fields_to_dbfields(self, fields):
         """Translate fields' paths to their db equivalents."""
         subclasses = []
         if self._document._meta["allow_inheritance"]:
-            subclasses = [get_document(x) for x in self._document._subclasses][1:]
+            subclasses = [_DocumentRegistry.get(x) for x in self._document._subclasses][
+                1:
+            ]
 
         db_field_paths = []
         for field in fields:
diff --git a/tests/document/test_instance.py b/tests/document/test_instance.py
index 89645e3ef..c5970420f 100644
--- a/tests/document/test_instance.py
+++ b/tests/document/test_instance.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 
 from mongoengine import *
 from mongoengine import signals
-from mongoengine.base import _document_registry, get_document
+from mongoengine.base import _DocumentRegistry
 from mongoengine.connection import get_db
 from mongoengine.context_managers import query_counter, switch_db
 from mongoengine.errors import (
@@ -392,7 +392,7 @@ class NicePlace(Place):
 
         # Mimic Place and NicePlace definitions being in a different file
         # and the NicePlace model not being imported in at query time.
-        del _document_registry["Place.NicePlace"]
+        _DocumentRegistry.unregister("Place.NicePlace")
 
         with pytest.raises(NotRegistered):
             list(Place.objects.all())
@@ -407,8 +407,8 @@ class Area(Location):
 
         Location.drop_collection()
 
-        assert Area == get_document("Area")
-        assert Area == get_document("Location.Area")
+        assert Area == _DocumentRegistry.get("Area")
+        assert Area == _DocumentRegistry.get("Location.Area")
 
     def test_creation(self):
         """Ensure that document may be created using keyword arguments."""
diff --git a/tests/fields/test_fields.py b/tests/fields/test_fields.py
index 5655f12e2..8980b6037 100644
--- a/tests/fields/test_fields.py
+++ b/tests/fields/test_fields.py
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@
 from mongoengine.base import (
     BaseField,
     EmbeddedDocumentList,
-    _document_registry,
+    _DocumentRegistry,
 )
 from mongoengine.base.fields import _no_dereference_for_fields
 from mongoengine.errors import DeprecatedError
@@ -1678,7 +1678,7 @@ class User(Document):
 
         # Mimic User and Link definitions being in a different file
         # and the Link model not being imported in the User file.
-        del _document_registry["Link"]
+        _DocumentRegistry.unregister("Link")
 
         user = User.objects.first()
         try: