diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 3b78288887..0799898e0b 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ MAKE_BUILD_SCHEME = checkout
 # for Chez Scheme, and add `-b <branch>` to `GIT_CLONE_ARGS_qq`
 # to clone a particular branch from that repo
 CHEZ_SCHEME_REPO = https://github.com/racket/ChezScheme
-GIT_CLONE_ARGS_qq = -q --depth 1
+GIT_CLONE_ARGS_qq = -q --recurse-submodules --depth 1
 
 # Altenative source for Chez Scheme repo, normally set by
 # the distro-build client driver