diff --git a/src/bootstrap/bootstrap.py b/src/bootstrap/bootstrap.py
index 05d7b0f611f72..9d64a254f619b 100644
--- a/src/bootstrap/bootstrap.py
+++ b/src/bootstrap/bootstrap.py
@@ -990,7 +990,7 @@ def update_submodule(self, module, checked_out, recorded_submodules):
         run(["git", "submodule", "-q", "sync", module],
             cwd=self.rust_root, verbose=self.verbose)
 
-        update_args = ["git", "submodule", "update", "--init", "--recursive"]
+        update_args = ["git", "submodule", "update", "--init", "--recursive", "--depth=1"]
         if self.git_version >= distutils.version.LooseVersion("2.11.0"):
             update_args.append("--progress")
         update_args.append(module)