diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 0bc606e..7c2c1ab 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -15,6 +15,22 @@ set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD_REQUIRED ON)
 include(CTest)
 find_package(Git)
 
+#check for git submodules
+if(GIT_FOUND AND EXISTS "${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/.git")
+# Update submodules as needed
+    option(GIT_SUBMODULE "Check submodules during build" ON)
+    if(GIT_SUBMODULE AND NOT hasParent)
+        message(STATUS "Submodule update")
+        execute_process(COMMAND ${GIT_EXECUTABLE} submodule update --init --recursive
+                        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 ${GIT_SUBMOD_RESULT}, please checkout submodules")
+        endif()
+    endif()
+endif()
+
+
 INCLUDE(ProcessDOXYGEN)
 INCLUDE(ProcessGIT)
 INCLUDE(add_my_test)