diff --git a/yadm b/yadm
index 2a3ff87..a39a57a 100755
--- a/yadm
+++ b/yadm
@@ -1376,10 +1376,7 @@ function upgrade() {
       # been cloned first and then added as a submodule.
       "$GIT_PROGRAM" submodule absorbgitdirs
 
-      local submodule_status
-      submodule_status=$("$GIT_PROGRAM" -C "$YADM_WORK" submodule status)
       while read -r sha submodule rest; do
-        [ "$submodule" == "" ] && continue
         if [[ "$sha" = -* ]]; then
           continue
         fi
@@ -1390,7 +1387,7 @@ function upgrade() {
           error_out "Unable to upgrade. Could not deinit submodule $submodule"
         }
         submodules+=("$submodule")
-      done <<<"$submodule_status"
+      done < <("$GIT_PROGRAM" -C "$YADM_WORK" submodule status)
 
       assert_parent "$YADM_REPO"
       mv "$LEGACY_REPO" "$YADM_REPO"