diff --git a/autogen.sh b/autogen.sh
index 1e06e268770..a7cc704a205 100755
--- a/autogen.sh
+++ b/autogen.sh
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ else
 fi
 
 if test -d ".git" ; then
-  if ! git submodule sync || ! git submodule update --init --recursive; then
+  if ! git submodule sync || ! git submodule update --force --init --recursive; then
     echo "Error: could not initialize submodule projects"
     echo "  Network connectivity might be required."
     exit 1
diff --git a/doc/dev/release-process.rst b/doc/dev/release-process.rst
index f039fd875f4..f7e853b1ae4 100644
--- a/doc/dev/release-process.rst
+++ b/doc/dev/release-process.rst
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ In the ceph source directory, checkout next branch (for point releases use the {
 
 Checkout the submodules::
 
-    git submodule update --init --recursive
+    git submodule update --force --init --recursive
 
 4.  Update Build version numbers
 ================================
diff --git a/doc/install/clone-source.rst b/doc/install/clone-source.rst
index c7272f25231..fe67857b9a8 100644
--- a/doc/install/clone-source.rst
+++ b/doc/install/clone-source.rst
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ repository.
 
 If your submodules are out of date, run::
 
-	git submodule update --init --recursive
+	git submodule update --force --init --recursive
 
 Choose a Branch
 ===============
diff --git a/src/test/docker-test-helper.sh b/src/test/docker-test-helper.sh
index e7336c08358..3035f0250c3 100755
--- a/src/test/docker-test-helper.sh
+++ b/src/test/docker-test-helper.sh
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ function setup_downstream() {
         cd $downstream
         git reset --hard $ref || return 1
         git submodule sync --recursive || return 1
-        git submodule update --init --recursive || return 1
+        git submodule update --force --init --recursive || return 1
     )
 }