diff --git a/epics-base.spec b/epics-base.spec
index 9c9bf0425..2a4cf9304 100644
--- a/epics-base.spec
+++ b/epics-base.spec
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ The documentation of EPICS base %{EpicsVersion}.
 %prep
 %{__rm} -rf %{buildroot}/usr/lib
 %{__rm} -f modules/RELEASE.*.local
-git submodule update --init modules
+git submodule update --init --recursive modules
 %{__mkdir_p} RPMS
 %{__mkdir_p} SRPMS