diff --git a/src/Database/ExpandoModel.php b/src/Database/ExpandoModel.php
index 9edcddf71..2b51ce892 100644
--- a/src/Database/ExpandoModel.php
+++ b/src/Database/ExpandoModel.php
@@ -36,6 +36,17 @@ public function __construct(array $attributes = [])
         $this->addJsonable($this->expandoColumn);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * setExpandoAttributes on the model and protects the passthru values
+     */
+    public function setExpandoAttributes(array $attributes = [])
+    {
+        $this->attributes = array_merge(
+            $this->attributes,
+            array_diff_key($attributes, array_flip($this->getExpandoPassthru()))
+        );
+    }
+
     /**
      * expandoAfterFetch constructor event
      */