diff --git a/t/lib-submodule-update.sh b/t/lib-submodule-update.sh
index 122554acd6..bb36287803 100755
--- a/t/lib-submodule-update.sh
+++ b/t/lib-submodule-update.sh
@@ -630,7 +630,7 @@ test_submodule_forced_switch () {
 # Internal function; use test_submodule_switch_recursing_with_args() or
 # test_submodule_forced_switch_recursing_with_args() instead.
 test_submodule_recursing_with_args_common () {
-	command="$1"
+	command="$1 --recurse-submodules"
 
 	######################### Appearing submodule #########################
 	# Switching to a commit letting a submodule appear checks it out ...
@@ -809,7 +809,7 @@ test_submodule_recursing_with_args_common () {
 # test_submodule_switch_recursing_with_args "$GIT_COMMAND"
 test_submodule_switch_recursing_with_args () {
 	cmd_args="$1"
-	command="git $cmd_args --recurse-submodules"
+	command="git $cmd_args"
 	test_submodule_recursing_with_args_common "$command"
 
 	RESULTDS=success
@@ -927,7 +927,7 @@ test_submodule_switch_recursing_with_args () {
 # away local changes in the superproject is allowed.
 test_submodule_forced_switch_recursing_with_args () {
 	cmd_args="$1"
-	command="git $cmd_args --recurse-submodules"
+	command="git $cmd_args"
 	test_submodule_recursing_with_args_common "$command"
 
 	RESULT=success