diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c931c8e21..9475301b5 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -201,6 +201,11 @@ The root of the source tree will be referred to as `${SRC_ROOT}` below.
     externals description file pointed 'useful_library/sub-xternals.cfg',
     Then the main 'externals' field in the top level repo should point to
     'sub-externals.cfg'.
+    Note that by default, `checkout_externals` will clone an external's
+    submodules. As a special case, the entry, `externals = None`, will
+    prevent this behavior. For more control over which externals are
+    checked out, create an externals file (and see the `from_submodule`
+    configuration entry below).
 
   * from_submodule (True / False) : used to pull the repo_url, local_path,
     and hash properties for this external from the .gitmodules file in
diff --git a/manic/checkout.py b/manic/checkout.py
index 2223b1f0d..a581f8787 100755
--- a/manic/checkout.py
+++ b/manic/checkout.py
@@ -227,6 +227,12 @@ def commandline_arguments(args=None):
     Now, %(prog)s will process Externals.cfg and also process
     Externals_LIBX.cfg as if it was a sub-external.
 
+    Note that by default, checkout_externals will clone an external's
+    submodules. As a special case, the entry, "externals = None", will
+    prevent this behavior. For more control over which externals are
+    checked out, create an externals file (and see the from_submodule
+    configuration entry below).
+
   * from_submodule (True / False) : used to pull the repo_url, local_path,
     and hash properties for this external from the .gitmodules file in
     this repository. Note that the section name (the entry in square