diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 0103ae80fa3..f035ad7f3ad 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -368,6 +368,14 @@ then
     "${CFG_GIT}" submodule status --recursive
 
     msg "git: submodule update"
+    "${CFG_GIT}" submodule --quiet update --init
+    need_ok "git failed"
+
+    msg "git: submodule foreach sync"
+    "${CFG_GIT}" submodule --quiet foreach --recursive 'if test -e .gitmodules; then git submodule sync; fi'
+    need_ok "git failed"
+
+    msg "git: submodule foreach update"
     "${CFG_GIT}" submodule --quiet update --init --recursive
     need_ok "git failed"