diff --git a/.forgejo/workflows/on_release.yml b/.forgejo/workflows/on_release.yml
index 04522e409e..1432982068 100644
--- a/.forgejo/workflows/on_release.yml
+++ b/.forgejo/workflows/on_release.yml
@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           echo -e "[submodule \"android\"]\n\tpath = android\n\turl = https://source.mapcomplete.org/MapComplete/android-wrapper" > .gitmodules
           cat .gitmodules
-          git submodule update
+          git submodule init
+          git submodule update --init --recursive
           cd android
           git config --global --add safe.directory $(pwd)
           git remote -v