diff --git a/extensions/panache/mongodb-panache-common/runtime/src/main/java/io/quarkus/mongodb/panache/reactive/runtime/ReactiveMongoOperations.java b/extensions/panache/mongodb-panache-common/runtime/src/main/java/io/quarkus/mongodb/panache/reactive/runtime/ReactiveMongoOperations.java
index bd4c3ae51c7b8..0e27d7536b8ad 100644
--- a/extensions/panache/mongodb-panache-common/runtime/src/main/java/io/quarkus/mongodb/panache/reactive/runtime/ReactiveMongoOperations.java
+++ b/extensions/panache/mongodb-panache-common/runtime/src/main/java/io/quarkus/mongodb/panache/reactive/runtime/ReactiveMongoOperations.java
@@ -42,6 +42,14 @@
 public abstract class ReactiveMongoOperations<QueryType, UpdateType> {
     public final String ID = "_id";
     private static final Logger LOGGER = Logger.getLogger(ReactiveMongoOperations.class);
+
+    // update operators: https://docs.mongodb.com/manual/reference/operator/update/
+    private static final List<String> UPDATE_OPERATORS = Arrays.asList(
+            "$currentDate", "$inc", "$min", "$max", "$mul", "$rename", "$set", "$setOnInsert", "$unset",
+            "$addToSet", "$pop", "$pull", "$push", "$pullAll",
+            "$each", "$position", "$slice", "$sort",
+            "$bit");
+
     private static final Map<String, String> defaultDatabaseName = new ConcurrentHashMap<>();
 
     protected abstract QueryType createQuery(ReactiveMongoCollection collection, Document query, Document sortDoc);
@@ -369,11 +377,11 @@ public String bindFilter(Class<?> clazz, String query, Map<String, Object> param
     /**
      * We should have a query like <code>{'firstname': ?1, 'lastname': ?2}</code> for native one
      * and like <code>firstname = ?1 and lastname = ?2</code> for PanacheQL one.
-     * As update document needs a <code>$set</code> operator we add it if needed.
+     * As update document needs an update operator, we add <code>$set</code> if none is provided.
      */
     String bindUpdate(Class<?> clazz, String query, Object[] params) {
         String bindUpdate = bindQuery(clazz, query, params);
-        if (!bindUpdate.contains("$set")) {
+        if (!containsUpdateOperator(query)) {
             bindUpdate = "{'$set':" + bindUpdate + "}";
         }
         LOGGER.debug(bindUpdate);
@@ -383,17 +391,26 @@ String bindUpdate(Class<?> clazz, String query, Object[] params) {
     /**
      * We should have a query like <code>{'firstname': :firstname, 'lastname': :lastname}</code> for native one
      * and like <code>firstname = :firstname and lastname = :lastname</code> for PanacheQL one.
-     * As update document needs a <code>$set</code> operator we add it if needed.
+     * As update document needs an update operator, we add <code>$set</code> if none is provided.
      */
     String bindUpdate(Class<?> clazz, String query, Map<String, Object> params) {
         String bindUpdate = bindQuery(clazz, query, params);
-        if (!bindUpdate.contains("$set")) {
+        if (!containsUpdateOperator(query)) {
             bindUpdate = "{'$set':" + bindUpdate + "}";
         }
         LOGGER.debug(bindUpdate);
         return bindUpdate;
     }
 
+    private boolean containsUpdateOperator(String update) {
+        for (String operator : UPDATE_OPERATORS) {
+            if (update.contains(operator)) {
+                return true;
+            }
+        }
+        return false;
+    }
+
     String bindQuery(Class<?> clazz, String query, Object[] params) {
         String bindQuery = null;
 
diff --git a/extensions/panache/mongodb-panache-common/runtime/src/main/java/io/quarkus/mongodb/panache/runtime/MongoOperations.java b/extensions/panache/mongodb-panache-common/runtime/src/main/java/io/quarkus/mongodb/panache/runtime/MongoOperations.java
index e40b104f6b709..9ed4225e27517 100644
--- a/extensions/panache/mongodb-panache-common/runtime/src/main/java/io/quarkus/mongodb/panache/runtime/MongoOperations.java
+++ b/extensions/panache/mongodb-panache-common/runtime/src/main/java/io/quarkus/mongodb/panache/runtime/MongoOperations.java
@@ -42,6 +42,13 @@ public abstract class MongoOperations<QueryType, UpdateType> {
     public final String ID = "_id";
     private static final Logger LOGGER = Logger.getLogger(MongoOperations.class);
 
+    // update operators: https://docs.mongodb.com/manual/reference/operator/update/
+    private static final List<String> UPDATE_OPERATORS = Arrays.asList(
+            "$currentDate", "$inc", "$min", "$max", "$mul", "$rename", "$set", "$setOnInsert", "$unset",
+            "$addToSet", "$pop", "$pull", "$push", "$pullAll",
+            "$each", "$position", "$slice", "$sort",
+            "$bit");
+
     private final Map<String, String> defaultDatabaseName = new ConcurrentHashMap<>();
 
     protected abstract QueryType createQuery(MongoCollection<?> collection, Document query, Document sortDoc);
@@ -343,11 +350,11 @@ public String bindFilter(Class<?> clazz, String query, Map<String, Object> param
     /**
      * We should have a query like <code>{'firstname': ?1, 'lastname': ?2}</code> for native one
      * and like <code>firstname = ?1 and lastname = ?2</code> for PanacheQL one.
-     * As update document needs a <code>$set</code> operator we add it if needed.
+     * As update document needs an update operator, we add <code>$set</code> if none is provided.
      */
     String bindUpdate(Class<?> clazz, String query, Object[] params) {
         String bindUpdate = bindQuery(clazz, query, params);
-        if (!bindUpdate.contains("$set")) {
+        if (!containsUpdateOperator(query)) {
             bindUpdate = "{'$set':" + bindUpdate + "}";
         }
         LOGGER.debug(bindUpdate);
@@ -357,17 +364,26 @@ String bindUpdate(Class<?> clazz, String query, Object[] params) {
     /**
      * We should have a query like <code>{'firstname': :firstname, 'lastname': :lastname}</code> for native one
      * and like <code>firstname = :firstname and lastname = :lastname</code> for PanacheQL one.
-     * As update document needs a <code>$set</code> operator we add it if needed.
+     * As update document needs an update operator, we add <code>$set</code> if none is provided.
      */
     String bindUpdate(Class<?> clazz, String query, Map<String, Object> params) {
         String bindUpdate = bindQuery(clazz, query, params);
-        if (!bindUpdate.contains("$set")) {
+        if (!containsUpdateOperator(query)) {
             bindUpdate = "{'$set':" + bindUpdate + "}";
         }
         LOGGER.debug(bindUpdate);
         return bindUpdate;
     }
 
+    private boolean containsUpdateOperator(String update) {
+        for (String operator : UPDATE_OPERATORS) {
+            if (update.contains(operator)) {
+                return true;
+            }
+        }
+        return false;
+    }
+
     private String bindQuery(Class<?> clazz, String query, Object[] params) {
         String bindQuery = null;
         //determine the type of the query
diff --git a/extensions/panache/mongodb-panache-kotlin/runtime/src/main/kotlin/io/quarkus/mongodb/panache/kotlin/PanacheMongoCompanion.kt b/extensions/panache/mongodb-panache-kotlin/runtime/src/main/kotlin/io/quarkus/mongodb/panache/kotlin/PanacheMongoCompanion.kt
index e2bd0db004a1d..ea00195eaebc2 100644
--- a/extensions/panache/mongodb-panache-kotlin/runtime/src/main/kotlin/io/quarkus/mongodb/panache/kotlin/PanacheMongoCompanion.kt
+++ b/extensions/panache/mongodb-panache-kotlin/runtime/src/main/kotlin/io/quarkus/mongodb/panache/kotlin/PanacheMongoCompanion.kt
@@ -647,7 +647,8 @@ interface PanacheMongoCompanionBase<Entity : PanacheMongoEntityBase, Id: Any> {
      * Update all entities of this type using the given update document with optional indexed parameters.
      * The returned [PanacheUpdate] object will allow to restrict on which document the update should be applied.
      *
-     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain `$set` we add it. It can also be expressed as a query string.
+     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain any update operator, we add `$set`.
+     * It can also be expressed as a query string.
      * @param params optional sequence of indexed parameters
      * @return a new [PanacheUpdate] instance for the given update document
      * @see [update]
@@ -659,7 +660,7 @@ interface PanacheMongoCompanionBase<Entity : PanacheMongoEntityBase, Id: Any> {
      * Update all entities of this type by the given update document with named parameters.
      * The returned [PanacheUpdate] object will allow to restrict on which document the update should be applied.
      *
-     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain `$set` we add it.
+     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain any update operator, we add `$set`.
      * It can also be expressed as a query string.
      *
      * @param params map of named parameters
@@ -674,8 +675,8 @@ interface PanacheMongoCompanionBase<Entity : PanacheMongoEntityBase, Id: Any> {
      * Update all entities of this type by the given update document, with named parameters.
      * The returned [PanacheUpdate] object will allow to restrict on which document the update should be applied.
      *
-     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain `$set` we add it. It can also be expressed as a query
-     * string.
+     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain any update operator, we add `$set`.
+     * It can also be expressed as a query string.
      *
      * @param params [Parameters] of named parameters
      * @return a new [PanacheUpdate] instance for the given update document
diff --git a/extensions/panache/mongodb-panache-kotlin/runtime/src/main/kotlin/io/quarkus/mongodb/panache/kotlin/PanacheMongoRepositoryBase.kt b/extensions/panache/mongodb-panache-kotlin/runtime/src/main/kotlin/io/quarkus/mongodb/panache/kotlin/PanacheMongoRepositoryBase.kt
index aa5d2f901af1e..40aeb0c9e4a7a 100755
--- a/extensions/panache/mongodb-panache-kotlin/runtime/src/main/kotlin/io/quarkus/mongodb/panache/kotlin/PanacheMongoRepositoryBase.kt
+++ b/extensions/panache/mongodb-panache-kotlin/runtime/src/main/kotlin/io/quarkus/mongodb/panache/kotlin/PanacheMongoRepositoryBase.kt
@@ -678,7 +678,7 @@ interface PanacheMongoRepositoryBase<Entity: Any, Id: Any> {
      * Update all entities of this type by the given update document, with optional indexed parameters.
      * The returned [PanacheUpdate] object will allow to restrict on which documents the update should be applied.
      *
-     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain `$set` we add it.
+     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain any update operator, we add `$set`.
      * It can also be expressed as a query string.
      * @param params optional sequence of indexed parameters
      * @return a new [PanacheUpdate] instance for the given update document
@@ -691,7 +691,7 @@ interface PanacheMongoRepositoryBase<Entity: Any, Id: Any> {
      * Update all entities of this type by the given update document, with named parameters.
      * The returned [PanacheUpdate] object will allow to restrict on which documents the update should be applied.
      *
-     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain `$set` we add it.
+     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain any update operator, we add `$set`.
      * It can also be expressed as a query string.
      * @param params [Map] of named parameters
      * @return a new [PanacheUpdate] instance for the given update document
@@ -705,7 +705,7 @@ interface PanacheMongoRepositoryBase<Entity: Any, Id: Any> {
      * Update all entities of this type by the given update document, with named parameters.
      * The returned [PanacheUpdate] object will allow to restrict on which document the update should be applied.
      *
-     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain `$set` we add it.
+     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain any update operator, we add `$set`.
      * It can also be expressed as a query string.
      * @param params [Parameters] of named parameters
      * @return a new [PanacheUpdate] instance for the given update document
diff --git a/extensions/panache/mongodb-panache-kotlin/runtime/src/main/kotlin/io/quarkus/mongodb/panache/kotlin/reactive/ReactivePanacheMongoCompanion.kt b/extensions/panache/mongodb-panache-kotlin/runtime/src/main/kotlin/io/quarkus/mongodb/panache/kotlin/reactive/ReactivePanacheMongoCompanion.kt
index 39db5694be8e6..ee54a438afa79 100644
--- a/extensions/panache/mongodb-panache-kotlin/runtime/src/main/kotlin/io/quarkus/mongodb/panache/kotlin/reactive/ReactivePanacheMongoCompanion.kt
+++ b/extensions/panache/mongodb-panache-kotlin/runtime/src/main/kotlin/io/quarkus/mongodb/panache/kotlin/reactive/ReactivePanacheMongoCompanion.kt
@@ -720,7 +720,7 @@ interface ReactivePanacheMongoCompanionBase<Entity : ReactivePanacheMongoEntityB
      * Update all entities of this type by the given update document, with optional indexed parameters.
      * The returned [ReactivePanacheUpdate] object will allow to restrict on which document the update should be applied.
      *
-     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain `$set` we add it.
+     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain any update operator, we add `$set`.
      * It can also be expressed as a query string.
      * @param params optional sequence of indexed parameters
      * @return a new [ReactivePanacheUpdate] instance for the given update document
@@ -734,7 +734,7 @@ interface ReactivePanacheMongoCompanionBase<Entity : ReactivePanacheMongoEntityB
      * Update all entities of this type by the given update document, with named parameters.
      * The returned [ReactivePanacheUpdate] object will allow to restrict on which document the update should be applied.
      *
-     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain `$set` we add it.
+     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain any update operator, we add `$set`.
      * It can also be expressed as a query string.
      * @param params [Map] of named parameters
      * @return a new [ReactivePanacheUpdate] instance for the given update document
@@ -747,7 +747,7 @@ interface ReactivePanacheMongoCompanionBase<Entity : ReactivePanacheMongoEntityB
      * Update all entities of this type by the given update document, with named parameters.
      * The returned [ReactivePanacheUpdate] object will allow to restrict on which document the update should be applied.
      *
-     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain `$set` we add it.
+     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain any update operator, we add `$set`.
      * It can also be expressed as a query string.
      * @param params [Parameters] of named parameters
      * @return a new [ReactivePanacheUpdate] instance for the given update document
diff --git a/extensions/panache/mongodb-panache-kotlin/runtime/src/main/kotlin/io/quarkus/mongodb/panache/kotlin/reactive/ReactivePanacheMongoRepositoryBase.kt b/extensions/panache/mongodb-panache-kotlin/runtime/src/main/kotlin/io/quarkus/mongodb/panache/kotlin/reactive/ReactivePanacheMongoRepositoryBase.kt
index 9644a19d5b878..deaacfbbaa2e7 100644
--- a/extensions/panache/mongodb-panache-kotlin/runtime/src/main/kotlin/io/quarkus/mongodb/panache/kotlin/reactive/ReactivePanacheMongoRepositoryBase.kt
+++ b/extensions/panache/mongodb-panache-kotlin/runtime/src/main/kotlin/io/quarkus/mongodb/panache/kotlin/reactive/ReactivePanacheMongoRepositoryBase.kt
@@ -685,7 +685,7 @@ interface ReactivePanacheMongoRepositoryBase<Entity: Any, Id: Any> {
      * Update all entities of this type by the given update document, with optional indexed parameters.
      * The returned [ReactivePanacheUpdate] object will allow to restrict on which document the update should be applied.
      *
-     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain `$set` we add it.
+     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain any update operator, we add `$set`.
      * It can also be expressed as a query string.
      * @param params optional sequence of indexed parameters
      * @return a new [ReactivePanacheUpdate] instance for the given update document
@@ -699,7 +699,7 @@ interface ReactivePanacheMongoRepositoryBase<Entity: Any, Id: Any> {
      * Update all entities of this type by the given update document, with named parameters.
      * The returned [ReactivePanacheUpdate] object will allow to restrict on which document the update should be applied.
      *
-     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain `$set` we add it.
+     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain any update operator, we add `$set`.
      * It can also be expressed as a query string.
      * @param params [Map] of named parameters
      * @return a new [ReactivePanacheUpdate] instance for the given update document
@@ -713,7 +713,7 @@ interface ReactivePanacheMongoRepositoryBase<Entity: Any, Id: Any> {
      * Update all entities of this type by the given update document, with named parameters.
      * The returned [ReactivePanacheUpdate] object will allow to restrict on which document the update should be applied.
      *
-     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain `$set` we add it.
+     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain any update operator, we add `$set`.
      * It can also be expressed as a query string.
      * @param params [Parameters] of named parameters
      * @return a new [ReactivePanacheUpdate] instance for the given update document
diff --git a/extensions/panache/mongodb-panache/runtime/src/main/java/io/quarkus/mongodb/panache/PanacheMongoEntityBase.java b/extensions/panache/mongodb-panache/runtime/src/main/java/io/quarkus/mongodb/panache/PanacheMongoEntityBase.java
index 3200323b54519..ebb226a3eb107 100755
--- a/extensions/panache/mongodb-panache/runtime/src/main/java/io/quarkus/mongodb/panache/PanacheMongoEntityBase.java
+++ b/extensions/panache/mongodb-panache/runtime/src/main/java/io/quarkus/mongodb/panache/PanacheMongoEntityBase.java
@@ -876,7 +876,7 @@ public static void persistOrUpdate(Object firstEntity, Object... entities) {
      * Update all entities of this type by the given update document, with optional indexed parameters.
      * The returned {@link PanacheUpdate} object will allow to restrict on which document the update should be applied.
      *
-     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain <code>$set</code> we add it.
+     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain any update operator, we add <code>$set</code>..
      *        It can also be expressed as a {@link io.quarkus.mongodb.panache query string}.
      * @param params optional sequence of indexed parameters
      * @return a new {@link PanacheUpdate} instance for the given update document
@@ -892,7 +892,7 @@ public static PanacheUpdate update(String update, Object... params) {
      * Update all entities of this type by the given update document, with named parameters.
      * The returned {@link PanacheUpdate} object will allow to restrict on which document the update should be applied.
      *
-     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain <code>$set</code> we add it.
+     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain any update operator, we add <code>$set</code>.
      *        It can also be expressed as a {@link io.quarkus.mongodb.panache query string}.
      * @param params {@link Map} of named parameters
      * @return a new {@link PanacheUpdate} instance for the given update document
@@ -909,7 +909,7 @@ public static PanacheUpdate update(String update, Map<String, Object> params) {
      * Update all entities of this type by the given update document, with named parameters.
      * The returned {@link PanacheUpdate} object will allow to restrict on which document the update should be applied.
      *
-     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain <code>$set</code> we add it.
+     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain any update operator, we add <code>$set</code>.
      *        It can also be expressed as a {@link io.quarkus.mongodb.panache query string}.
      * @param params {@link Parameters} of named parameters
      * @return a new {@link PanacheUpdate} instance for the given update document
diff --git a/extensions/panache/mongodb-panache/runtime/src/main/java/io/quarkus/mongodb/panache/PanacheMongoRepositoryBase.java b/extensions/panache/mongodb-panache/runtime/src/main/java/io/quarkus/mongodb/panache/PanacheMongoRepositoryBase.java
index 31a39e6692564..eb360d109f827 100755
--- a/extensions/panache/mongodb-panache/runtime/src/main/java/io/quarkus/mongodb/panache/PanacheMongoRepositoryBase.java
+++ b/extensions/panache/mongodb-panache/runtime/src/main/java/io/quarkus/mongodb/panache/PanacheMongoRepositoryBase.java
@@ -883,7 +883,7 @@ default void persistOrUpdate(Entity firstEntity, @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
      * Update all entities of this type by the given update document, with optional indexed parameters.
      * The returned {@link PanacheUpdate} object will allow to restrict on which documents the update should be applied.
      *
-     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain <code>$set</code> we add it.
+     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain any update operator, we add <code>$set</code>.
      *        It can also be expressed as a {@link io.quarkus.mongodb.panache query string}.
      * @param params optional sequence of indexed parameters
      * @return a new {@link PanacheUpdate} instance for the given update document
@@ -899,7 +899,7 @@ default PanacheUpdate update(String update, Object... params) {
      * Update all entities of this type by the given update document, with named parameters.
      * The returned {@link PanacheUpdate} object will allow to restrict on which documents the update should be applied.
      *
-     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain <code>$set</code> we add it.
+     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain any update operator, we add <code>$set</code>.
      *        It can also be expressed as a {@link io.quarkus.mongodb.panache query string}.
      * @param params {@link Map} of named parameters
      * @return a new {@link PanacheUpdate} instance for the given update document
@@ -916,7 +916,7 @@ default PanacheUpdate update(String update, Map<String, Object> params) {
      * Update all entities of this type by the given update document, with named parameters.
      * The returned {@link PanacheUpdate} object will allow to restrict on which document the update should be applied.
      *
-     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain <code>$set</code> we add it.
+     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain any update operator, we add <code>$set</code>.
      *        It can also be expressed as a {@link io.quarkus.mongodb.panache query string}.
      * @param params {@link Parameters} of named parameters
      * @return a new {@link PanacheUpdate} instance for the given update document
diff --git a/extensions/panache/mongodb-panache/runtime/src/main/java/io/quarkus/mongodb/panache/reactive/ReactivePanacheMongoEntityBase.java b/extensions/panache/mongodb-panache/runtime/src/main/java/io/quarkus/mongodb/panache/reactive/ReactivePanacheMongoEntityBase.java
index bf4f7d92645d8..c326e9136b749 100644
--- a/extensions/panache/mongodb-panache/runtime/src/main/java/io/quarkus/mongodb/panache/reactive/ReactivePanacheMongoEntityBase.java
+++ b/extensions/panache/mongodb-panache/runtime/src/main/java/io/quarkus/mongodb/panache/reactive/ReactivePanacheMongoEntityBase.java
@@ -889,7 +889,7 @@ public static Uni<Void> persistOrUpdate(Object firstEntity, Object... entities)
      * Update all entities of this type by the given update document, with optional indexed parameters.
      * The returned {@link PanacheUpdate} object will allow to restrict on which document the update should be applied.
      *
-     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain <code>$set</code> we add it.
+     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain any update operator, we add <code>$set</code>.
      *        It can also be expressed as a {@link io.quarkus.mongodb.panache query string}.
      * @param params optional sequence of indexed parameters
      * @return a new {@link ReactivePanacheUpdate} instance for the given update document
@@ -905,7 +905,7 @@ public static ReactivePanacheUpdate update(String update, Object... params) {
      * Update all entities of this type by the given update document, with named parameters.
      * The returned {@link PanacheUpdate} object will allow to restrict on which document the update should be applied.
      *
-     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain <code>$set</code> we add it.
+     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain any update operator, we add <code>$set</code>.
      *        It can also be expressed as a {@link io.quarkus.mongodb.panache query string}.
      * @param params {@link Map} of named parameters
      * @return a new {@link ReactivePanacheUpdate} instance for the given update document
@@ -922,7 +922,7 @@ public static ReactivePanacheUpdate update(String update, Map<String, Object> pa
      * Update all entities of this type by the given update document, with named parameters.
      * The returned {@link PanacheUpdate} object will allow to restrict on which document the update should be applied.
      *
-     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain <code>$set</code> we add it.
+     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain any update operator, we add <code>$set</code>.
      *        It can also be expressed as a {@link io.quarkus.mongodb.panache query string}.
      * @param params {@link Parameters} of named parameters
      * @return a new {@link ReactivePanacheUpdate} instance for the given update document
diff --git a/extensions/panache/mongodb-panache/runtime/src/main/java/io/quarkus/mongodb/panache/reactive/ReactivePanacheMongoRepositoryBase.java b/extensions/panache/mongodb-panache/runtime/src/main/java/io/quarkus/mongodb/panache/reactive/ReactivePanacheMongoRepositoryBase.java
index 0e066345f3cdb..8eb0ac42aa98d 100644
--- a/extensions/panache/mongodb-panache/runtime/src/main/java/io/quarkus/mongodb/panache/reactive/ReactivePanacheMongoRepositoryBase.java
+++ b/extensions/panache/mongodb-panache/runtime/src/main/java/io/quarkus/mongodb/panache/reactive/ReactivePanacheMongoRepositoryBase.java
@@ -887,7 +887,7 @@ default Uni<Void> persistOrUpdate(Entity firstEntity, Entity... entities) {
      * Update all entities of this type by the given update document, with optional indexed parameters.
      * The returned {@link PanacheUpdate} object will allow to restrict on which document the update should be applied.
      *
-     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain <code>$set</code> we add it.
+     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain any update operator, we add <code>$set</code>.
      *        It can also be expressed as a {@link io.quarkus.mongodb.panache query string}.
      * @param params optional sequence of indexed parameters
      * @return a new {@link ReactivePanacheUpdate} instance for the given update document
@@ -903,7 +903,7 @@ default ReactivePanacheUpdate update(String update, Object... params) {
      * Update all entities of this type by the given update document, with named parameters.
      * The returned {@link PanacheUpdate} object will allow to restrict on which document the update should be applied.
      *
-     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain <code>$set</code> we add it.
+     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain any update operator, we add <code>$set</code>.
      *        It can also be expressed as a {@link io.quarkus.mongodb.panache query string}.
      * @param params {@link Map} of named parameters
      * @return a new {@link ReactivePanacheUpdate} instance for the given update document
@@ -920,7 +920,7 @@ default ReactivePanacheUpdate update(String update, Map<String, Object> params)
      * Update all entities of this type by the given update document, with named parameters.
      * The returned {@link PanacheUpdate} object will allow to restrict on which document the update should be applied.
      *
-     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain <code>$set</code> we add it.
+     * @param update the update document, if it didn't contain any update operator, we add <code>$set</code>.
      *        It can also be expressed as a {@link io.quarkus.mongodb.panache query string}.
      * @param params {@link Parameters} of named parameters
      * @return a new {@link ReactivePanacheUpdate} instance for the given update document
diff --git a/extensions/panache/mongodb-panache/runtime/src/test/java/io/quarkus/mongodb/panache/runtime/MongoOperationsTest.java b/extensions/panache/mongodb-panache/runtime/src/test/java/io/quarkus/mongodb/panache/runtime/MongoOperationsTest.java
index 38e01aad9280f..fe4fc16c589af 100644
--- a/extensions/panache/mongodb-panache/runtime/src/test/java/io/quarkus/mongodb/panache/runtime/MongoOperationsTest.java
+++ b/extensions/panache/mongodb-panache/runtime/src/test/java/io/quarkus/mongodb/panache/runtime/MongoOperationsTest.java
@@ -369,6 +369,15 @@ public void testBindUpdate() {
                 Parameters.with("field", "a value").map());
         assertEquals("{'$set':{'field': 'a value'}}", update);
 
+        // native update by index with $inc
+        update = operations.bindUpdate(DemoObj.class, "{'$inc':{'field': ?1}}", new Object[] { "a value" });
+        assertEquals("{'$inc':{'field': 'a value'}}", update);
+
+        // native update by name with $inc
+        update = operations.bindUpdate(Object.class, "{'$inc':{'field': :field}}",
+                Parameters.with("field", "a value").map());
+        assertEquals("{'$inc':{'field': 'a value'}}", update);
+
         // shortand update
         update = operations.bindUpdate(Object.class, "field", new Object[] { "a value" });
         assertEquals("{'$set':{'field':'a value'}}", update);
diff --git a/integration-tests/mongodb-panache/src/main/java/io/quarkus/it/mongodb/panache/test/TestImperativeEntity.java b/integration-tests/mongodb-panache/src/main/java/io/quarkus/it/mongodb/panache/test/TestImperativeEntity.java
index 4dc23313b65b3..051a32df1530a 100644
--- a/integration-tests/mongodb-panache/src/main/java/io/quarkus/it/mongodb/panache/test/TestImperativeEntity.java
+++ b/integration-tests/mongodb-panache/src/main/java/io/quarkus/it/mongodb/panache/test/TestImperativeEntity.java
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ public class TestImperativeEntity extends PanacheMongoEntity {
     public String title;
     public String category;
     public String description;
+    public int cpt = 1;
 
     public TestImperativeEntity() {
     }
diff --git a/integration-tests/mongodb-panache/src/main/java/io/quarkus/it/mongodb/panache/test/TestReactiveEntity.java b/integration-tests/mongodb-panache/src/main/java/io/quarkus/it/mongodb/panache/test/TestReactiveEntity.java
index 59ff60f8be2c9..edce5d613916c 100644
--- a/integration-tests/mongodb-panache/src/main/java/io/quarkus/it/mongodb/panache/test/TestReactiveEntity.java
+++ b/integration-tests/mongodb-panache/src/main/java/io/quarkus/it/mongodb/panache/test/TestReactiveEntity.java
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ public class TestReactiveEntity extends ReactivePanacheMongoEntity {
     public String title;
     public String category;
     public String description;
+    public int cpt = 1;
 
     public TestReactiveEntity() {
     }
diff --git a/integration-tests/mongodb-panache/src/main/java/io/quarkus/it/mongodb/panache/test/TestResource.java b/integration-tests/mongodb-panache/src/main/java/io/quarkus/it/mongodb/panache/test/TestResource.java
index a13af23876ce6..41657f6ed6318 100644
--- a/integration-tests/mongodb-panache/src/main/java/io/quarkus/it/mongodb/panache/test/TestResource.java
+++ b/integration-tests/mongodb-panache/src/main/java/io/quarkus/it/mongodb/panache/test/TestResource.java
@@ -149,12 +149,18 @@ public Response testImperativeEntity() {
         updated = TestImperativeEntity.update("{'category' : :category}", Parameters.with("category", "newCategory2"))
                 .where("{'category' : :category}", Parameters.with("category", "newCategory"));
         Assertions.assertEquals(5, updated);
-        Assertions.assertEquals(5, TestImperativeEntity.count("category = ?1", "newCategory2"));
+        updated = TestImperativeEntity.update("{'$set': {'category' : :category}}", Parameters.with("category", "newCategory3"))
+                .where("{'category' : :category}", Parameters.with("category", "newCategory2"));
+        Assertions.assertEquals(5, updated);
+        Assertions.assertEquals(5, TestImperativeEntity.count("category = ?1", "newCategory3"));
         updated = TestImperativeEntity.update("newField", "newValue").all();
         Assertions.assertEquals(10, updated);
+        updated = TestImperativeEntity.update("{'$inc': {'cpt': 1}}").all();
+        Assertions.assertEquals(10, updated);
+        Assertions.assertEquals(10, TestImperativeEntity.count("cpt = ?1", 2));
 
         // delete
-        TestImperativeEntity.delete("category = ?1", "newCategory2");
+        TestImperativeEntity.delete("category = ?1", "newCategory3");
         TestImperativeEntity.delete("{'category' : ?1}", "category1");
         Assertions.assertEquals(0, TestImperativeEntity.count());
         TestImperativeEntity.persist(entities.stream());
@@ -292,12 +298,19 @@ public Response testImperativeRepository() {
         updated = testImperativeRepository.update("{'category' : :category}", Parameters.with("category", "newCategory2"))
                 .where("{'category' : :category}", Parameters.with("category", "newCategory"));
         Assertions.assertEquals(5, updated);
-        Assertions.assertEquals(5, testImperativeRepository.count("category = ?1", "newCategory2"));
+        updated = testImperativeRepository
+                .update("{'$set': {'category' : :category}}", Parameters.with("category", "newCategory3"))
+                .where("{'category' : :category}", Parameters.with("category", "newCategory2"));
+        Assertions.assertEquals(5, updated);
+        Assertions.assertEquals(5, testImperativeRepository.count("category = ?1", "newCategory3"));
         updated = testImperativeRepository.update("newField", "newValue").all();
         Assertions.assertEquals(10, updated);
+        updated = testImperativeRepository.update("{'$inc': {'cpt': 1}}").all();
+        Assertions.assertEquals(10, updated);
+        Assertions.assertEquals(10, testImperativeRepository.count("cpt = ?1", 2));
 
         // delete
-        testImperativeRepository.delete("category = ?1", "newCategory2");
+        testImperativeRepository.delete("category = ?1", "newCategory3");
         testImperativeRepository.delete("{'category' : ?1}", "category1");
         Assertions.assertEquals(0, testImperativeRepository.count());
         testImperativeRepository.persist(entities.stream());
@@ -515,12 +528,18 @@ public Response testReactiveEntity() {
         updated = TestReactiveEntity.update("{'category' : :category}", Parameters.with("category", "newCategory2"))
                 .where("{'category' : :category}", Parameters.with("category", "newCategory")).await().indefinitely();
         Assertions.assertEquals(5, updated);
-        Assertions.assertEquals(5, TestReactiveEntity.count("category = ?1", "newCategory2").await().indefinitely());
+        updated = TestReactiveEntity.update("{'$set': {'category' : :category}}", Parameters.with("category", "newCategory3"))
+                .where("{'category' : :category}", Parameters.with("category", "newCategory2")).await().indefinitely();
+        Assertions.assertEquals(5, updated);
+        Assertions.assertEquals(5, TestReactiveEntity.count("category = ?1", "newCategory3").await().indefinitely());
         updated = TestReactiveEntity.update("newField", "newValue").all().await().indefinitely();
         Assertions.assertEquals(10, updated);
+        updated = TestReactiveEntity.update("{'$inc': {'cpt': 1}}").all().await().indefinitely();
+        Assertions.assertEquals(10, updated);
+        Assertions.assertEquals(10, TestReactiveEntity.count("cpt = ?1", 2).await().indefinitely());
 
         // delete
-        TestReactiveEntity.delete("category = ?1", "newCategory2").await().indefinitely();
+        TestReactiveEntity.delete("category = ?1", "newCategory3").await().indefinitely();
         TestReactiveEntity.delete("{'category' : ?1}", "category1").await().indefinitely();
         Assertions.assertEquals(0, TestReactiveEntity.count().await().indefinitely());
         TestReactiveEntity.persist(entities.stream()).await().indefinitely();
@@ -668,12 +687,19 @@ public Response testReactiveRepository() {
         updated = testReactiveRepository.update("{'category' : :category}", Parameters.with("category", "newCategory2"))
                 .where("{'category' : :category}", Parameters.with("category", "newCategory")).await().indefinitely();
         Assertions.assertEquals(5, updated);
-        Assertions.assertEquals(5, testReactiveRepository.count("category = ?1", "newCategory2").await().indefinitely());
+        updated = testReactiveRepository
+                .update("{'$set': {'category' : :category}}", Parameters.with("category", "newCategory3"))
+                .where("{'category' : :category}", Parameters.with("category", "newCategory2")).await().indefinitely();
+        Assertions.assertEquals(5, updated);
+        Assertions.assertEquals(5, testReactiveRepository.count("category = ?1", "newCategory3").await().indefinitely());
         updated = testReactiveRepository.update("newField", "newValue").all().await().indefinitely();
         Assertions.assertEquals(10, updated);
+        updated = testReactiveRepository.update("{'$inc': {'cpt': 1}}").all().await().indefinitely();
+        Assertions.assertEquals(10, updated);
+        Assertions.assertEquals(10, testReactiveRepository.count("cpt = ?1", 2).await().indefinitely());
 
         // delete
-        testReactiveRepository.delete("category = ?1", "newCategory2").await().indefinitely();
+        testReactiveRepository.delete("category = ?1", "newCategory3").await().indefinitely();
         testReactiveRepository.delete("{'category' : ?1}", "category1").await().indefinitely();
         Assertions.assertEquals(0, testReactiveRepository.count().await().indefinitely());
         testReactiveRepository.persist(entities.stream()).await().indefinitely();