diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index b669e8efbe..533a33c118 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ if(GIT_FOUND AND EXISTS "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/.git")
                     WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}
                     RESULT_VARIABLE GIT_SUBMOD_RESULT)
     if(NOT GIT_SUBMOD_RESULT EQUAL 0)
-      message(FATAL_ERROR "git submodule update --init failed with \
+      message(FATAL_ERROR "git submodule update --init --recursive failed with \
         ${GIT_SUBMOD_RESULT}, please checkout submodules")
     endif()
   endif()