diff --git a/commands/command.deploy.php b/commands/command.deploy.php
index 7321463..9b05924 100644
--- a/commands/command.deploy.php
+++ b/commands/command.deploy.php
@@ -82,6 +82,10 @@ private function shouldSetPermissionsAfter() {
     return $this->config['servers'][$this->env]['deploy']['set_permissions_after'];
   }
 
+  private function shouldUpdateSubmodules() {
+    return $this->config['servers'][$this->env]['deploy']['update_submodules'];
+  }
+
   private function handleNoEnvironment() {
     if ($this->env == null) {
       $output = <<<EOF
@@ -119,6 +123,10 @@ private function deployWithGit() {
     $ssh = $this->getSshConnection();
     if ($this->deployed) {
       $output = $ssh->exec('git pull');
+
+      if ($this->shouldUpdateSubmodules()) {
+        $output .= $ssh->exec('git submodule init; git submodule update');
+      }
     } else {
       $path_pieces = explode('/', $this->webroot);
       $dir_name = array_pop($path_pieces);
diff --git a/default.yaml b/default.yaml
index 8d64f45..4c3f481 100755
--- a/default.yaml
+++ b/default.yaml
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ servers:
 #     pull_content_before: true
 #     clear_cache_after: true
 #     set_permissions_after: false
+#     update_submodules: false
 #
 #   == RSYNC ==
 #   deploy: