diff --git a/External/Rakefile b/External/Rakefile
index 206559362..0272cabf9 100644
--- a/External/Rakefile
+++ b/External/Rakefile
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ end
 
 task :update_submodules do
   if executable_exists? "git"
-    system %{cd .. && git submodule update --init}
+    system %{cd .. && git submodule init && git submodule update}
   else
     puts "Git not installed"
     rake abort
diff --git a/Rakefile b/Rakefile
index 2ae19fb41..68724d3ed 100644
--- a/Rakefile
+++ b/Rakefile
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ end
 
 task :submodules do
     if executable_exists? "git"
-        system %{cd .. && git submodule update --init}
+        system %{git submodule init && git submodule update}
     else
         puts "Git not installed"
         rake abort