diff --git a/framework/CHANGELOG.md b/framework/CHANGELOG.md
index 82b2379..be266f2 100644
--- a/framework/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/framework/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -44,7 +44,6 @@ Yii Framework 2 Change Log
 - Bug #16377: Fixed `yii\base\Event:off()` undefined index error when event handler does not match (razvanphp)
 - Bug #16514: Fixed `yii\di\Container::resolveCallableDependencies` to support callable object (wi1dcard)
 - Bug #15889: Fixed override `yii\helpers\Html::setActivePlaceholder` (lesha724)
-- Bug #16552: Added check in `yii\db\ActiveQuery::prepare()` to prevent populating already populated relation when another relation is requested with `via` (drlibra)
 - Enh #16522: Allow jQuery 3.3 (Slamdunk)
 - Enh #16603: Added `yii\mutex\FileMutex::$isWindows` for Windows file shares on Unix guest machines (brandonkelly)
 - Bug #16666: Fixed `yii\helpers\ArrayHelper::merge` (rustamwin)
diff --git a/framework/db/ActiveQuery.php b/framework/db/ActiveQuery.php
index 5af019e..46086fb 100644
--- a/framework/db/ActiveQuery.php
+++ b/framework/db/ActiveQuery.php
@@ -172,19 +172,11 @@ class ActiveQuery extends Query implements ActiveQueryInterface
                 /* @var $viaQuery ActiveQuery */
                 list($viaName, $viaQuery) = $this->via;
                 if ($viaQuery->multiple) {
-                    if ($this->primaryModel->isRelationPopulated($viaName)) {
-                        $viaModels = $this->primaryModel->$viaName;
-                    } else {
-                        $viaModels = $viaQuery->all();
-                        $this->primaryModel->populateRelation($viaName, $viaModels);
-                    }
+                    $viaModels = $viaQuery->all();
+                    $this->primaryModel->populateRelation($viaName, $viaModels);
                 } else {
-                    if ($this->primaryModel->isRelationPopulated($viaName)) {
-                        $model = $this->primaryModel->$viaName;
-                    } else {
-                        $model = $viaQuery->one();
-                        $this->primaryModel->populateRelation($viaName, $model);
-                    }
+                    $model = $viaQuery->one();
+                    $this->primaryModel->populateRelation($viaName, $model);
                     $viaModels = $model === null ? [] : [$model];
                 }
                 $this->filterByModels($viaModels);