diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 626da5ba..197d17f6 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -528,5 +528,42 @@
                 </plugins>
             </build>
         </profile>
+        <profile>
+            <id>clone-git-submodules</id>
+            <activation>
+                <file>
+                    <missing>${basedir}/src/test/resources/README.md</missing>
+                </file>
+            </activation>
+            <build>
+                <plugins>
+                    <!-- https://sumit-jha.medium.com/how-to-make-maven-release-plugin-work-with-git-submodules-917825a253f2 -->
+                    <plugin>
+                        <groupId>org.codehaus.mojo</groupId>
+                        <artifactId>exec-maven-plugin</artifactId>
+                        <version>1.3</version>
+                        <inherited>false</inherited>
+                        <executions>
+                            <execution>
+                                <id>clone git submodule</id>
+                                <phase>initialize</phase>
+                                <configuration>
+                                    <executable>git</executable>
+                                    <arguments>
+                                        <argument>submodule</argument>
+                                        <argument>update</argument>
+                                        <argument>--init</argument>
+                                        <argument>--recursive</argument>
+                                    </arguments>
+                                </configuration>
+                                <goals>
+                                    <goal>exec</goal>
+                                </goals>
+                            </execution>
+                        </executions>
+                    </plugin>
+                </plugins>
+            </build>
+        </profile>
     </profiles>
 </project>