diff --git a/src/libfetchers/git.cc b/src/libfetchers/git.cc
index 26da9c3aedc..ac59cb39958 100644
--- a/src/libfetchers/git.cc
+++ b/src/libfetchers/git.cc
@@ -371,7 +371,7 @@ struct GitInputScheme : InputScheme
 
     bool getSubmodulesAttr(const Input & input) const
     {
-        return maybeGetBoolAttr(input.attrs, "submodules").value_or(false);
+        return maybeGetBoolAttr(input.attrs, "submodules").value_or(true);
     }
 
     bool getExportIgnoreAttr(const Input & input) const