Merge branch 'ab/no-more-git-global-super-prefix'

Stop using "git --super-prefix" and narrow the scope of its use to
the submodule--helper.

* ab/no-more-git-global-super-prefix:
  read-tree: add "--super-prefix" option, eliminate global
  submodule--helper: convert "{update,clone}" to their own "--super-prefix"
  submodule--helper: convert "status" to its own "--super-prefix"
  submodule--helper: convert "sync" to its own "--super-prefix"
  submodule--helper: convert "foreach" to its own "--super-prefix"
  submodule--helper: don't use global --super-prefix in "absorbgitdirs"
  submodule.c & submodule--helper: pass along "super_prefix" param
  read-tree + fetch tests: test failing "--super-prefix" interaction
  submodule absorbgitdirs tests: add missing "Migrating git..." tests

20 files changed, 230 insertions, 180 deletions

diff --git a/Documentation/git.txt b/Documentation/git.txt
index 1d33e083ab..f9a7a4554c 100644
--- a/Documentation/git.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git.txt
@@ -13,8 +13,7 @@ SYNOPSIS
     [--exec-path[=<path>]] [--html-path] [--man-path] [--info-path]
     [-p|--paginate|-P|--no-pager] [--no-replace-objects] [--bare]
     [--git-dir=<path>] [--work-tree=<path>] [--namespace=<name>]
-    [--super-prefix=<path>] [--config-env=<name>=<envvar>]
-    <command> [<args>]
+    [--config-env=<name>=<envvar>] <command> [<args>]
 
 DESCRIPTION
 -----------
@@ -169,11 +168,6 @@ If you just want to run git as if it was started in `<path>` then use
 	details.  Equivalent to setting the `GIT_NAMESPACE` environment
 	variable.
 
---super-prefix=<path>::
-	Currently for internal use only.  Set a prefix which gives a path from
-	above a repository down to its root.  One use is to give submodules
-	context about the superproject that invoked it.
-
 --bare::
 	Treat the repository as a bare repository.  If GIT_DIR
 	environment is not set, it is set to the current working
diff --git a/builtin.h b/builtin.h
index aa955466b4..46cc789789 100644
--- a/builtin.h
+++ b/builtin.h
@@ -51,10 +51,6 @@
  *	on bare repositories.
  *	This only makes sense when `RUN_SETUP` is also set.
  *
- * `SUPPORT_SUPER_PREFIX`:
- *
- *	The built-in supports `--super-prefix`.
- *
  * `DELAY_PAGER_CONFIG`:
  *
  *	If RUN_SETUP or RUN_SETUP_GENTLY is set, git.c normally handles
diff --git a/builtin/checkout.c b/builtin/checkout.c
index a0142c815f..cd04f0bf57 100644
--- a/builtin/checkout.c
+++ b/builtin/checkout.c
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ static int checkout_stage(int stage, const struct cache_entry *ce, int pos,
 		pos++;
 	}
 	if (!overlay_mode) {
-		unlink_entry(ce);
+		unlink_entry(ce, NULL);
 		return 0;
 	}
 	if (stage == 2)
diff --git a/builtin/read-tree.c b/builtin/read-tree.c
index f702f9d47b..3ce7541783 100644
--- a/builtin/read-tree.c
+++ b/builtin/read-tree.c
@@ -114,6 +114,7 @@ int cmd_read_tree(int argc, const char **argv, const char *cmd_prefix)
 	int prefix_set = 0;
 	struct lock_file lock_file = LOCK_INIT;
 	const struct option read_tree_options[] = {
+		OPT__SUPER_PREFIX(&opts.super_prefix),
 		OPT_CALLBACK_F(0, "index-output", NULL, N_("file"),
 		  N_("write resulting index to <file>"),
 		  PARSE_OPT_NONEG, index_output_cb),
diff --git a/builtin/rm.c b/builtin/rm.c
index d4989d4d86..4a4aec0d00 100644
--- a/builtin/rm.c
+++ b/builtin/rm.c
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ static void submodules_absorb_gitdir_if_needed(void)
 			continue;
 
 		if (!submodule_uses_gitfile(name))
-			absorb_git_dir_into_superproject(name);
+			absorb_git_dir_into_superproject(name, NULL);
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/builtin/submodule--helper.c b/builtin/submodule--helper.c
index 6743fb27bd..450680fc70 100644
--- a/builtin/submodule--helper.c
+++ b/builtin/submodule--helper.c
@@ -113,10 +113,9 @@ static char *resolve_relative_url(const char *rel_url, const char *up_path, int
 }
 
 /* the result should be freed by the caller. */
-static char *get_submodule_displaypath(const char *path, const char *prefix)
+static char *get_submodule_displaypath(const char *path, const char *prefix,
+				       const char *super_prefix)
 {
-	const char *super_prefix = get_super_prefix();
-
 	if (prefix && super_prefix) {
 		BUG("cannot have prefix '%s' and superprefix '%s'",
 		    prefix, super_prefix);
@@ -279,6 +278,7 @@ struct foreach_cb {
 	int argc;
 	const char **argv;
 	const char *prefix;
+	const char *super_prefix;
 	int quiet;
 	int recursive;
 };
@@ -294,7 +294,8 @@ static void runcommand_in_submodule_cb(const struct cache_entry *list_item,
 	struct child_process cp = CHILD_PROCESS_INIT;
 	char *displaypath;
 
-	displaypath = get_submodule_displaypath(path, info->prefix);
+	displaypath = get_submodule_displaypath(path, info->prefix,
+						info->super_prefix);
 
 	sub = submodule_from_path(the_repository, null_oid(), path);
 
@@ -364,10 +365,10 @@ static void runcommand_in_submodule_cb(const struct cache_entry *list_item,
 		cpr.dir = path;
 		prepare_submodule_repo_env(&cpr.env);
 
-		strvec_pushl(&cpr.args, "--super-prefix", NULL);
-		strvec_pushf(&cpr.args, "%s/", displaypath);
 		strvec_pushl(&cpr.args, "submodule--helper", "foreach", "--recursive",
 			     NULL);
+		strvec_pushl(&cpr.args, "--super-prefix", NULL);
+		strvec_pushf(&cpr.args, "%s/", displaypath);
 
 		if (info->quiet)
 			strvec_push(&cpr.args, "--quiet");
@@ -391,6 +392,7 @@ static int module_foreach(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	struct pathspec pathspec = { 0 };
 	struct module_list list = MODULE_LIST_INIT;
 	struct option module_foreach_options[] = {
+		OPT__SUPER_PREFIX(&info.super_prefix),
 		OPT__QUIET(&info.quiet, N_("suppress output of entering each submodule command")),
 		OPT_BOOL(0, "recursive", &info.recursive,
 			 N_("recurse into nested submodules")),
@@ -435,11 +437,13 @@ static int starts_with_dot_dot_slash(const char *const path)
 
 struct init_cb {
 	const char *prefix;
+	const char *super_prefix;
 	unsigned int flags;
 };
 #define INIT_CB_INIT { 0 }
 
 static void init_submodule(const char *path, const char *prefix,
+			   const char *super_prefix,
 			   unsigned int flags)
 {
 	const struct submodule *sub;
@@ -447,7 +451,7 @@ static void init_submodule(const char *path, const char *prefix,
 	const char *upd;
 	char *url = NULL, *displaypath;
 
-	displaypath = get_submodule_displaypath(path, prefix);
+	displaypath = get_submodule_displaypath(path, prefix, super_prefix);
 
 	sub = submodule_from_path(the_repository, null_oid(), path);
 
@@ -523,7 +527,8 @@ static void init_submodule_cb(const struct cache_entry *list_item, void *cb_data
 {
 	struct init_cb *info = cb_data;
 
-	init_submodule(list_item->name, info->prefix, info->flags);
+	init_submodule(list_item->name, info->prefix, info->super_prefix,
+		       info->flags);
 }
 
 static int module_init(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
@@ -570,6 +575,7 @@ cleanup:
 
 struct status_cb {
 	const char *prefix;
+	const char *super_prefix;
 	unsigned int flags;
 };
 #define STATUS_CB_INIT { 0 }
@@ -608,7 +614,7 @@ static int handle_submodule_head_ref(const char *refname UNUSED,
 
 static void status_submodule(const char *path, const struct object_id *ce_oid,
 			     unsigned int ce_flags, const char *prefix,
-			     unsigned int flags)
+			     const char *super_prefix, unsigned int flags)
 {
 	char *displaypath;
 	struct strvec diff_files_args = STRVEC_INIT;
@@ -624,7 +630,7 @@ static void status_submodule(const char *path, const struct object_id *ce_oid,
 		die(_("no submodule mapping found in .gitmodules for path '%s'"),
 		      path);
 
-	displaypath = get_submodule_displaypath(path, prefix);
+	displaypath = get_submodule_displaypath(path, prefix, super_prefix);
 
 	if ((CE_STAGEMASK & ce_flags) >> CE_STAGESHIFT) {
 		print_status(flags, 'U', path, null_oid(), displaypath);
@@ -682,10 +688,10 @@ static void status_submodule(const char *path, const struct object_id *ce_oid,
 		cpr.dir = path;
 		prepare_submodule_repo_env(&cpr.env);
 
-		strvec_push(&cpr.args, "--super-prefix");
-		strvec_pushf(&cpr.args, "%s/", displaypath);
 		strvec_pushl(&cpr.args, "submodule--helper", "status",
 			     "--recursive", NULL);
+		strvec_push(&cpr.args, "--super-prefix");
+		strvec_pushf(&cpr.args, "%s/", displaypath);
 
 		if (flags & OPT_CACHED)
 			strvec_push(&cpr.args, "--cached");
@@ -709,7 +715,7 @@ static void status_submodule_cb(const struct cache_entry *list_item,
 	struct status_cb *info = cb_data;
 
 	status_submodule(list_item->name, &list_item->oid, list_item->ce_flags,
-			 info->prefix, info->flags);
+			 info->prefix, info->super_prefix, info->flags);
 }
 
 static int module_status(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
@@ -719,6 +725,7 @@ static int module_status(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	struct module_list list = MODULE_LIST_INIT;
 	int quiet = 0;
 	struct option module_status_options[] = {
+		OPT__SUPER_PREFIX(&info.super_prefix),
 		OPT__QUIET(&quiet, N_("suppress submodule status output")),
 		OPT_BIT(0, "cached", &info.flags, N_("use commit stored in the index instead of the one stored in the submodule HEAD"), OPT_CACHED),
 		OPT_BIT(0, "recursive", &info.flags, N_("recurse into nested submodules"), OPT_RECURSIVE),
@@ -787,6 +794,7 @@ struct summary_cb {
 	int argc;
 	const char **argv;
 	const char *prefix;
+	const char *super_prefix;
 	unsigned int cached: 1;
 	unsigned int for_status: 1;
 	unsigned int files: 1;
@@ -948,7 +956,8 @@ static void generate_submodule_summary(struct summary_cb *info,
 		dst_abbrev = xstrndup(oid_to_hex(&p->oid_dst), 7);
 	}
 
-	displaypath = get_submodule_displaypath(p->sm_path, info->prefix);
+	displaypath = get_submodule_displaypath(p->sm_path, info->prefix,
+						info->super_prefix);
 
 	if (!missing_src && !missing_dst) {
 		struct child_process cp_rev_list = CHILD_PROCESS_INIT;
@@ -1203,12 +1212,13 @@ static int module_summary(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 
 struct sync_cb {
 	const char *prefix;
+	const char *super_prefix;
 	unsigned int flags;
 };
 #define SYNC_CB_INIT { 0 }
 
 static void sync_submodule(const char *path, const char *prefix,
-			   unsigned int flags)
+			   const char *super_prefix, unsigned int flags)
 {
 	const struct submodule *sub;
 	char *remote_key = NULL;
@@ -1239,7 +1249,7 @@ static void sync_submodule(const char *path, const char *prefix,
 		super_config_url = xstrdup("");
 	}
 
-	displaypath = get_submodule_displaypath(path, prefix);
+	displaypath = get_submodule_displaypath(path, prefix, super_prefix);
 
 	if (!(flags & OPT_QUIET))
 		printf(_("Synchronizing submodule url for '%s'\n"),
@@ -1276,10 +1286,11 @@ static void sync_submodule(const char *path, const char *prefix,
 		cpr.dir = path;
 		prepare_submodule_repo_env(&cpr.env);
 
-		strvec_push(&cpr.args, "--super-prefix");
-		strvec_pushf(&cpr.args, "%s/", displaypath);
 		strvec_pushl(&cpr.args, "submodule--helper", "sync",
 			     "--recursive", NULL);
+		strvec_push(&cpr.args, "--super-prefix");
+		strvec_pushf(&cpr.args, "%s/", displaypath);
+
 
 		if (flags & OPT_QUIET)
 			strvec_push(&cpr.args, "--quiet");
@@ -1302,7 +1313,8 @@ static void sync_submodule_cb(const struct cache_entry *list_item, void *cb_data
 {
 	struct sync_cb *info = cb_data;
 
-	sync_submodule(list_item->name, info->prefix, info->flags);
+	sync_submodule(list_item->name, info->prefix, info->super_prefix,
+		       info->flags);
 }
 
 static int module_sync(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
@@ -1313,6 +1325,7 @@ static int module_sync(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	int quiet = 0;
 	int recursive = 0;
 	struct option module_sync_options[] = {
+		OPT__SUPER_PREFIX(&info.super_prefix),
 		OPT__QUIET(&quiet, N_("suppress output of synchronizing submodule url")),
 		OPT_BOOL(0, "recursive", &recursive,
 			N_("recurse into nested submodules")),
@@ -1365,7 +1378,7 @@ static void deinit_submodule(const char *path, const char *prefix,
 	if (!sub || !sub->name)
 		goto cleanup;
 
-	displaypath = get_submodule_displaypath(path, prefix);
+	displaypath = get_submodule_displaypath(path, prefix, NULL);
 
 	/* remove the submodule work tree (unless the user already did it) */
 	if (is_directory(path)) {
@@ -1379,7 +1392,7 @@ static void deinit_submodule(const char *path, const char *prefix,
 					  ".git file by using absorbgitdirs."),
 					displaypath);
 
-			absorb_git_dir_into_superproject(path);
+			absorb_git_dir_into_superproject(path, NULL);
 
 		}
 
@@ -1883,6 +1896,7 @@ static void submodule_update_clone_release(struct submodule_update_clone *suc)
 
 struct update_data {
 	const char *prefix;
+	const char *super_prefix;
 	char *displaypath;
 	enum submodule_update_type update_default;
 	struct object_id suboid;
@@ -1958,7 +1972,8 @@ static int prepare_to_clone_next_submodule(const struct cache_entry *ce,
 	enum submodule_update_type update_type;
 	char *key;
 	const struct update_data *ud = suc->update_data;
-	char *displaypath = get_submodule_displaypath(ce->name, ud->prefix);
+	char *displaypath = get_submodule_displaypath(ce->name, ud->prefix,
+						      ud->super_prefix);
 	struct strbuf sb = STRBUF_INIT;
 	int needs_cloning = 0;
 	int need_free_url = 0;
@@ -2438,11 +2453,11 @@ static void update_data_to_args(const struct update_data *update_data,
 {
 	enum submodule_update_type update_type = update_data->update_default;
 
+	strvec_pushl(args, "submodule--helper", "update", "--recursive", NULL);
 	if (update_data->displaypath) {
 		strvec_push(args, "--super-prefix");
 		strvec_pushf(args, "%s/", update_data->displaypath);
 	}
-	strvec_pushl(args, "submodule--helper", "update", "--recursive", NULL);
 	strvec_pushf(args, "--jobs=%d", update_data->max_jobs);
 	if (update_data->quiet)
 		strvec_push(args, "--quiet");
@@ -2608,7 +2623,8 @@ static int update_submodules(struct update_data *update_data)
 			goto fail;
 
 		update_data->displaypath = get_submodule_displaypath(
-			update_data->sm_path, update_data->prefix);
+			update_data->sm_path, update_data->prefix,
+			update_data->super_prefix);
 		code = update_submodule(update_data);
 		FREE_AND_NULL(update_data->displaypath);
 fail:
@@ -2634,6 +2650,7 @@ static int module_update(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		LIST_OBJECTS_FILTER_INIT;
 	int ret;
 	struct option module_update_options[] = {
+		OPT__SUPER_PREFIX(&opt.super_prefix),
 		OPT__FORCE(&opt.force, N_("force checkout updates"), 0),
 		OPT_BOOL(0, "init", &opt.init,
 			 N_("initialize uninitialized submodules before update")),
@@ -2730,6 +2747,7 @@ static int module_update(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 			module_list_active(&list);
 
 		info.prefix = opt.prefix;
+		info.super_prefix = opt.super_prefix;
 		if (opt.quiet)
 			info.flags |= OPT_QUIET;
 
@@ -2828,7 +2846,9 @@ static int absorb_git_dirs(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	int i;
 	struct pathspec pathspec = { 0 };
 	struct module_list list = MODULE_LIST_INIT;
+	const char *super_prefix = NULL;
 	struct option embed_gitdir_options[] = {
+		OPT__SUPER_PREFIX(&super_prefix),
 		OPT_END()
 	};
 	const char *const git_submodule_helper_usage[] = {
@@ -2844,7 +2864,8 @@ static int absorb_git_dirs(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		goto cleanup;
 
 	for (i = 0; i < list.nr; i++)
-		absorb_git_dir_into_superproject(list.entries[i]->name);
+		absorb_git_dir_into_superproject(list.entries[i]->name,
+						 super_prefix);
 
 	ret = 0;
 cleanup:
@@ -2876,7 +2897,7 @@ static int module_set_url(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	config_name = xstrfmt("submodule.%s.url", path);
 
 	config_set_in_gitmodules_file_gently(config_name, newurl);
-	sync_submodule(path, prefix, quiet ? OPT_QUIET : 0);
+	sync_submodule(path, prefix, NULL, quiet ? OPT_QUIET : 0);
 
 	free(config_name);
 
@@ -3353,8 +3374,6 @@ cleanup:
 
 int cmd_submodule__helper(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 {
-	const char *cmd = argv[0];
-	const char *subcmd;
 	parse_opt_subcommand_fn *fn = NULL;
 	const char *const usage[] = {
 		N_("git submodule--helper <command>"),
@@ -3378,18 +3397,6 @@ int cmd_submodule__helper(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		OPT_END()
 	};
 	argc = parse_options(argc, argv, prefix, options, usage, 0);
-	subcmd = argv[0];
-
-	if (strcmp(subcmd, "clone") && strcmp(subcmd, "update") &&
-	    strcmp(subcmd, "foreach") && strcmp(subcmd, "status") &&
-	    strcmp(subcmd, "sync") && strcmp(subcmd, "absorbgitdirs") &&
-	    get_super_prefix())
-		/*
-		 * xstrfmt() rather than "%s %s" to keep the translated
-		 * string identical to git.c's.
-		 */
-		die(_("%s doesn't support --super-prefix"),
-		    xstrfmt("'%s %s'", cmd, subcmd));
 
 	return fn(argc, argv, prefix);
 }
diff --git a/cache.h b/cache.h
index fcf49706ad..21ed9633b2 100644
--- a/cache.h
+++ b/cache.h
@@ -480,7 +480,6 @@ static inline enum object_type object_type(unsigned int mode)
 #define GIT_NAMESPACE_ENVIRONMENT "GIT_NAMESPACE"
 #define GIT_WORK_TREE_ENVIRONMENT "GIT_WORK_TREE"
 #define GIT_PREFIX_ENVIRONMENT "GIT_PREFIX"
-#define GIT_SUPER_PREFIX_ENVIRONMENT "GIT_INTERNAL_SUPER_PREFIX"
 #define DEFAULT_GIT_DIR_ENVIRONMENT ".git"
 #define DB_ENVIRONMENT "GIT_OBJECT_DIRECTORY"
 #define INDEX_ENVIRONMENT "GIT_INDEX_FILE"
@@ -566,7 +565,6 @@ int get_common_dir_noenv(struct strbuf *sb, const char *gitdir);
 int get_common_dir(struct strbuf *sb, const char *gitdir);
 const char *get_git_namespace(void);
 const char *strip_namespace(const char *namespaced_ref);
-const char *get_super_prefix(void);
 const char *get_git_work_tree(void);
 
 /*
diff --git a/entry.c b/entry.c
index 616e4f073c..971ab26871 100644
--- a/entry.c
+++ b/entry.c
@@ -383,7 +383,7 @@ static int write_entry(struct cache_entry *ce, char *path, struct conv_attrs *ca
 			return error("cannot create submodule directory %s", path);
 		sub = submodule_from_ce(ce);
 		if (sub)
-			return submodule_move_head(ce->name,
+			return submodule_move_head(ce->name, state->super_prefix,
 				NULL, oid_to_hex(&ce->oid),
 				state->force ? SUBMODULE_MOVE_HEAD_FORCE : 0);
 		break;
@@ -476,7 +476,7 @@ int checkout_entry_ca(struct cache_entry *ce, struct conv_attrs *ca,
 			 * no pathname to return.
 			 */
 			BUG("Can't remove entry to a path");
-		unlink_entry(ce);
+		unlink_entry(ce, state->super_prefix);
 		return 0;
 	}
 
@@ -510,10 +510,10 @@ int checkout_entry_ca(struct cache_entry *ce, struct conv_attrs *ca,
 				if (!(st.st_mode & S_IFDIR))
 					unlink_or_warn(ce->name);
 
-				return submodule_move_head(ce->name,
+				return submodule_move_head(ce->name, state->super_prefix,
 					NULL, oid_to_hex(&ce->oid), 0);
 			} else
-				return submodule_move_head(ce->name,
+				return submodule_move_head(ce->name, state->super_prefix,
 					"HEAD", oid_to_hex(&ce->oid),
 					state->force ? SUBMODULE_MOVE_HEAD_FORCE : 0);
 		}
@@ -560,12 +560,12 @@ int checkout_entry_ca(struct cache_entry *ce, struct conv_attrs *ca,
 	return write_entry(ce, path.buf, ca, state, 0, nr_checkouts);
 }
 
-void unlink_entry(const struct cache_entry *ce)
+void unlink_entry(const struct cache_entry *ce, const char *super_prefix)
 {
 	const struct submodule *sub = submodule_from_ce(ce);
 	if (sub) {
 		/* state.force is set at the caller. */
-		submodule_move_head(ce->name, "HEAD", NULL,
+		submodule_move_head(ce->name, super_prefix, "HEAD", NULL,
 				    SUBMODULE_MOVE_HEAD_FORCE);
 	}
 	if (check_leading_path(ce->name, ce_namelen(ce), 1) >= 0)
diff --git a/entry.h b/entry.h
index 9be4659881..2d4fbb88c8 100644
--- a/entry.h
+++ b/entry.h
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ struct checkout {
 	struct index_state *istate;
 	const char *base_dir;
 	int base_dir_len;
+	const char *super_prefix;
 	struct delayed_checkout *delayed_checkout;
 	struct checkout_metadata meta;
 	unsigned force:1,
@@ -48,8 +49,11 @@ int finish_delayed_checkout(struct checkout *state, int show_progress);
 /*
  * Unlink the last component and schedule the leading directories for
  * removal, such that empty directories get removed.
+ *
+ * The "super_prefix" is either NULL, or the "--super-prefix" passed
+ * down from "read-tree" et al.
  */
-void unlink_entry(const struct cache_entry *ce);
+void unlink_entry(const struct cache_entry *ce, const char *super_prefix);
 
 void *read_blob_entry(const struct cache_entry *ce, size_t *size);
 int fstat_checkout_output(int fd, const struct checkout *state, struct stat *st);
diff --git a/environment.c b/environment.c
index 18d042b467..1ee3686fd8 100644
--- a/environment.c
+++ b/environment.c
@@ -102,8 +102,6 @@ char *git_work_tree_cfg;
 
 static char *git_namespace;
 
-static char *super_prefix;
-
 /*
  * Repository-local GIT_* environment variables; see cache.h for details.
  */
@@ -121,7 +119,6 @@ const char * const local_repo_env[] = {
 	NO_REPLACE_OBJECTS_ENVIRONMENT,
 	GIT_REPLACE_REF_BASE_ENVIRONMENT,
 	GIT_PREFIX_ENVIRONMENT,
-	GIT_SUPER_PREFIX_ENVIRONMENT,
 	GIT_SHALLOW_FILE_ENVIRONMENT,
 	GIT_COMMON_DIR_ENVIRONMENT,
 	NULL
@@ -234,16 +231,6 @@ const char *strip_namespace(const char *namespaced_ref)
 	return NULL;
 }
 
-const char *get_super_prefix(void)
-{
-	static int initialized;
-	if (!initialized) {
-		super_prefix = xstrdup_or_null(getenv(GIT_SUPER_PREFIX_ENVIRONMENT));
-		initialized = 1;
-	}
-	return super_prefix;
-}
-
 static int git_work_tree_initialized;
 
 /*
diff --git a/git.c b/git.c
index 277a8cce84..32a5be68a1 100644
--- a/git.c
+++ b/git.c
@@ -14,9 +14,8 @@
  * RUN_SETUP for reading from the configuration file.
  */
 #define NEED_WORK_TREE		(1<<3)
-#define SUPPORT_SUPER_PREFIX	(1<<4)
-#define DELAY_PAGER_CONFIG	(1<<5)
-#define NO_PARSEOPT		(1<<6) /* parse-options is not used */
+#define DELAY_PAGER_CONFIG	(1<<4)
+#define NO_PARSEOPT		(1<<5) /* parse-options is not used */
 
 struct cmd_struct {
 	const char *cmd;
@@ -29,8 +28,7 @@ const char git_usage_string[] =
 	   "           [--exec-path[=<path>]] [--html-path] [--man-path] [--info-path]\n"
 	   "           [-p | --paginate | -P | --no-pager] [--no-replace-objects] [--bare]\n"
 	   "           [--git-dir=<path>] [--work-tree=<path>] [--namespace=<name>]\n"
-	   "           [--super-prefix=<path>] [--config-env=<name>=<envvar>]\n"
-	   "           <command> [<args>]");
+	   "           [--config-env=<name>=<envvar>] <command> [<args>]");
 
 const char git_more_info_string[] =
 	N_("'git help -a' and 'git help -g' list available subcommands and some\n"
@@ -226,20 +224,6 @@ static int handle_options(const char ***argv, int *argc, int *envchanged)
 			setenv(GIT_WORK_TREE_ENVIRONMENT, cmd, 1);
 			if (envchanged)
 				*envchanged = 1;
-		} else if (!strcmp(cmd, "--super-prefix")) {
-			if (*argc < 2) {
-				fprintf(stderr, _("no prefix given for --super-prefix\n" ));
-				usage(git_usage_string);
-			}
-			setenv(GIT_SUPER_PREFIX_ENVIRONMENT, (*argv)[1], 1);
-			if (envchanged)
-				*envchanged = 1;
-			(*argv)++;
-			(*argc)--;
-		} else if (skip_prefix(cmd, "--super-prefix=", &cmd)) {
-			setenv(GIT_SUPER_PREFIX_ENVIRONMENT, cmd, 1);
-			if (envchanged)
-				*envchanged = 1;
 		} else if (!strcmp(cmd, "--bare")) {
 			char *cwd = xgetcwd();
 			is_bare_repository_cfg = 1;
@@ -449,11 +433,6 @@ static int run_builtin(struct cmd_struct *p, int argc, const char **argv)
 		trace_repo_setup(prefix);
 	commit_pager_choice();
 
-	if (!help && get_super_prefix()) {
-		if (!(p->option & SUPPORT_SUPER_PREFIX))
-			die(_("%s doesn't support --super-prefix"), p->cmd);
-	}
-
 	if (!help && p->option & NEED_WORK_TREE)
 		setup_work_tree();
 
@@ -504,7 +483,7 @@ static struct cmd_struct commands[] = {
 	{ "check-ref-format", cmd_check_ref_format, NO_PARSEOPT  },
 	{ "checkout", cmd_checkout, RUN_SETUP | NEED_WORK_TREE },
 	{ "checkout--worker", cmd_checkout__worker,
-		RUN_SETUP | NEED_WORK_TREE | SUPPORT_SUPER_PREFIX },
+		RUN_SETUP | NEED_WORK_TREE },
 	{ "checkout-index", cmd_checkout_index,
 		RUN_SETUP | NEED_WORK_TREE},
 	{ "cherry", cmd_cherry, RUN_SETUP },
@@ -539,7 +518,7 @@ static struct cmd_struct commands[] = {
 	{ "format-patch", cmd_format_patch, RUN_SETUP },
 	{ "fsck", cmd_fsck, RUN_SETUP },
 	{ "fsck-objects", cmd_fsck, RUN_SETUP },
-	{ "fsmonitor--daemon", cmd_fsmonitor__daemon, SUPPORT_SUPER_PREFIX | RUN_SETUP },
+	{ "fsmonitor--daemon", cmd_fsmonitor__daemon, RUN_SETUP },
 	{ "gc", cmd_gc, RUN_SETUP },
 	{ "get-tar-commit-id", cmd_get_tar_commit_id, NO_PARSEOPT },
 	{ "grep", cmd_grep, RUN_SETUP_GENTLY },
@@ -583,7 +562,7 @@ static struct cmd_struct commands[] = {
 	{ "pull", cmd_pull, RUN_SETUP | NEED_WORK_TREE },
 	{ "push", cmd_push, RUN_SETUP },
 	{ "range-diff", cmd_range_diff, RUN_SETUP | USE_PAGER },
-	{ "read-tree", cmd_read_tree, RUN_SETUP | SUPPORT_SUPER_PREFIX},
+	{ "read-tree", cmd_read_tree, RUN_SETUP },
 	{ "rebase", cmd_rebase, RUN_SETUP | NEED_WORK_TREE },
 	{ "receive-pack", cmd_receive_pack },
 	{ "reflog", cmd_reflog, RUN_SETUP },
@@ -610,7 +589,7 @@ static struct cmd_struct commands[] = {
 	{ "stash", cmd_stash, RUN_SETUP | NEED_WORK_TREE },
 	{ "status", cmd_status, RUN_SETUP | NEED_WORK_TREE },
 	{ "stripspace", cmd_stripspace },
-	{ "submodule--helper", cmd_submodule__helper, RUN_SETUP | SUPPORT_SUPER_PREFIX },
+	{ "submodule--helper", cmd_submodule__helper, RUN_SETUP },
 	{ "switch", cmd_switch, RUN_SETUP | NEED_WORK_TREE },
 	{ "symbolic-ref", cmd_symbolic_ref, RUN_SETUP },
 	{ "tag", cmd_tag, RUN_SETUP | DELAY_PAGER_CONFIG },
@@ -727,9 +706,6 @@ static void execv_dashed_external(const char **argv)
 	struct child_process cmd = CHILD_PROCESS_INIT;
 	int status;
 
-	if (get_super_prefix())
-		die(_("%s doesn't support --super-prefix"), argv[0]);
-
 	if (use_pager == -1 && !is_builtin(argv[0]))
 		use_pager = check_pager_config(argv[0]);
 	commit_pager_choice();
@@ -799,9 +775,6 @@ static int run_argv(int *argcp, const char ***argv)
 			 */
 			trace2_cmd_name("_run_git_alias_");
 
-			if (get_super_prefix())
-				die("%s doesn't support --super-prefix", **argv);
-
 			commit_pager_choice();
 
 			strvec_push(&cmd.args, "git");
diff --git a/parse-options.h b/parse-options.h
index b6ef86e0d1..50d852f299 100644
--- a/parse-options.h
+++ b/parse-options.h
@@ -369,6 +369,10 @@ int parse_opt_tracking_mode(const struct option *, const char *, int);
 	{ OPTION_CALLBACK, 0, "abbrev", (var), N_("n"),	\
 	  N_("use <n> digits to display object names"),	\
 	  PARSE_OPT_OPTARG, &parse_opt_abbrev_cb, 0 }
+#define OPT__SUPER_PREFIX(var) \
+	OPT_STRING_F(0, "super-prefix", (var), N_("prefix"), \
+		N_("prefixed path to initial superproject"), PARSE_OPT_HIDDEN)
+
 #define OPT__COLOR(var, h) \
 	OPT_COLOR_FLAG(0, "color", (var), (h))
 #define OPT_COLUMN(s, l, v, h) \
diff --git a/submodule.c b/submodule.c
index fae24ef34a..3a0dfc417c 100644
--- a/submodule.c
+++ b/submodule.c
@@ -2054,14 +2054,6 @@ void submodule_unset_core_worktree(const struct submodule *sub)
 	strbuf_release(&config_path);
 }
 
-static const char *get_super_prefix_or_empty(void)
-{
-	const char *s = get_super_prefix();
-	if (!s)
-		s = "";
-	return s;
-}
-
 static int submodule_has_dirty_index(const struct submodule *sub)
 {
 	struct child_process cp = CHILD_PROCESS_INIT;
@@ -2080,7 +2072,7 @@ static int submodule_has_dirty_index(const struct submodule *sub)
 	return finish_command(&cp);
 }
 
-static void submodule_reset_index(const char *path)
+static void submodule_reset_index(const char *path, const char *super_prefix)
 {
 	struct child_process cp = CHILD_PROCESS_INIT;
 	prepare_submodule_repo_env(&cp.env);
@@ -2089,10 +2081,10 @@ static void submodule_reset_index(const char *path)
 	cp.no_stdin = 1;
 	cp.dir = path;
 
-	strvec_pushf(&cp.args, "--super-prefix=%s%s/",
-		     get_super_prefix_or_empty(), path);
 	/* TODO: determine if this might overwright untracked files */
 	strvec_pushl(&cp.args, "read-tree", "-u", "--reset", NULL);
+	strvec_pushf(&cp.args, "--super-prefix=%s%s/",
+		     (super_prefix ? super_prefix : ""), path);
 
 	strvec_push(&cp.args, empty_tree_oid_hex());
 
@@ -2105,10 +2097,9 @@ static void submodule_reset_index(const char *path)
  * For edge cases (a submodule coming into existence or removing a submodule)
  * pass NULL for old or new respectively.
  */
-int submodule_move_head(const char *path,
-			 const char *old_head,
-			 const char *new_head,
-			 unsigned flags)
+int submodule_move_head(const char *path, const char *super_prefix,
+			const char *old_head, const char *new_head,
+			unsigned flags)
 {
 	int ret = 0;
 	struct child_process cp = CHILD_PROCESS_INIT;
@@ -2145,7 +2136,8 @@ int submodule_move_head(const char *path,
 	if (!(flags & SUBMODULE_MOVE_HEAD_DRY_RUN)) {
 		if (old_head) {
 			if (!submodule_uses_gitfile(path))
-				absorb_git_dir_into_superproject(path);
+				absorb_git_dir_into_superproject(path,
+								 super_prefix);
 		} else {
 			struct strbuf gitdir = STRBUF_INIT;
 			submodule_name_to_gitdir(&gitdir, the_repository,
@@ -2154,7 +2146,7 @@ int submodule_move_head(const char *path,
 			strbuf_release(&gitdir);
 
 			/* make sure the index is clean as well */
-			submodule_reset_index(path);
+			submodule_reset_index(path, super_prefix);
 		}
 
 		if (old_head && (flags & SUBMODULE_MOVE_HEAD_FORCE)) {
@@ -2172,9 +2164,9 @@ int submodule_move_head(const char *path,
 	cp.no_stdin = 1;
 	cp.dir = path;
 
-	strvec_pushf(&cp.args, "--super-prefix=%s%s/",
-		     get_super_prefix_or_empty(), path);
 	strvec_pushl(&cp.args, "read-tree", "--recurse-submodules", NULL);
+	strvec_pushf(&cp.args, "--super-prefix=%s%s/",
+		     (super_prefix ? super_prefix : ""), path);
 
 	if (flags & SUBMODULE_MOVE_HEAD_DRY_RUN)
 		strvec_push(&cp.args, "-n");
@@ -2274,7 +2266,8 @@ int validate_submodule_git_dir(char *git_dir, const char *submodule_name)
  * Embeds a single submodules git directory into the superprojects git dir,
  * non recursively.
  */
-static void relocate_single_git_dir_into_superproject(const char *path)
+static void relocate_single_git_dir_into_superproject(const char *path,
+						      const char *super_prefix)
 {
 	char *old_git_dir = NULL, *real_old_git_dir = NULL, *real_new_git_dir = NULL;
 	struct strbuf new_gitdir = STRBUF_INIT;
@@ -2304,7 +2297,7 @@ static void relocate_single_git_dir_into_superproject(const char *path)
 	real_new_git_dir = real_pathdup(new_gitdir.buf, 1);
 
 	fprintf(stderr, _("Migrating git directory of '%s%s' from\n'%s' to\n'%s'\n"),
-		get_super_prefix_or_empty(), path,
+		super_prefix ? super_prefix : "", path,
 		real_old_git_dir, real_new_git_dir);
 
 	relocate_gitdir(path, real_old_git_dir, real_new_git_dir);
@@ -2315,7 +2308,8 @@ static void relocate_single_git_dir_into_superproject(const char *path)
 	strbuf_release(&new_gitdir);
 }
 
-static void absorb_git_dir_into_superproject_recurse(const char *path)
+static void absorb_git_dir_into_superproject_recurse(const char *path,
+						     const char *super_prefix)
 {
 
 	struct child_process cp = CHILD_PROCESS_INIT;
@@ -2323,10 +2317,11 @@ static void absorb_git_dir_into_superproject_recurse(const char *path)
 	cp.dir = path;
 	cp.git_cmd = 1;
 	cp.no_stdin = 1;
-	strvec_pushf(&cp.args, "--super-prefix=%s%s/",
-		     get_super_prefix_or_empty(), path);
 	strvec_pushl(&cp.args, "submodule--helper",
 		     "absorbgitdirs", NULL);
+	strvec_pushf(&cp.args, "--super-prefix=%s%s/", super_prefix ?
+		     super_prefix : "", path);
+
 	prepare_submodule_repo_env(&cp.env);
 	if (run_command(&cp))
 		die(_("could not recurse into submodule '%s'"), path);
@@ -2337,7 +2332,8 @@ static void absorb_git_dir_into_superproject_recurse(const char *path)
  * having its git directory within the working tree to the git dir nested
  * in its superprojects git dir under modules/.
  */
-void absorb_git_dir_into_superproject(const char *path)
+void absorb_git_dir_into_superproject(const char *path,
+				      const char *super_prefix)
 {
 	int err_code;
 	const char *sub_git_dir;
@@ -2379,14 +2375,14 @@ void absorb_git_dir_into_superproject(const char *path)
 		char *real_common_git_dir = real_pathdup(get_git_common_dir(), 1);
 
 		if (!starts_with(real_sub_git_dir, real_common_git_dir))
-			relocate_single_git_dir_into_superproject(path);
+			relocate_single_git_dir_into_superproject(path, super_prefix);
 
 		free(real_sub_git_dir);
 		free(real_common_git_dir);
 	}
 	strbuf_release(&gitdir);
 
-	absorb_git_dir_into_superproject_recurse(path);
+	absorb_git_dir_into_superproject_recurse(path, super_prefix);
 }
 
 int get_superproject_working_tree(struct strbuf *buf)
diff --git a/submodule.h b/submodule.h
index b52a4ff1e7..c55a25ca37 100644
--- a/submodule.h
+++ b/submodule.h
@@ -150,9 +150,8 @@ int validate_submodule_git_dir(char *git_dir, const char *submodule_name);
 
 #define SUBMODULE_MOVE_HEAD_DRY_RUN (1<<0)
 #define SUBMODULE_MOVE_HEAD_FORCE   (1<<1)
-int submodule_move_head(const char *path,
-			const char *old,
-			const char *new_head,
+int submodule_move_head(const char *path, const char *super_prefix,
+			const char *old_head, const char *new_head,
 			unsigned flags);
 
 void submodule_unset_core_worktree(const struct submodule *sub);
@@ -164,7 +163,8 @@ void submodule_unset_core_worktree(const struct submodule *sub);
  */
 void prepare_submodule_repo_env(struct strvec *env);
 
-void absorb_git_dir_into_superproject(const char *path);
+void absorb_git_dir_into_superproject(const char *path,
+				      const char *super_prefix);
 
 /*
  * Return the absolute path of the working tree of the superproject, which this
diff --git a/t/t1001-read-tree-m-2way.sh b/t/t1001-read-tree-m-2way.sh
index 516a6112fd..3fb1b0c162 100755
--- a/t/t1001-read-tree-m-2way.sh
+++ b/t/t1001-read-tree-m-2way.sh
@@ -370,7 +370,7 @@ test_expect_success 'read-tree supports the super-prefix' '
 	cat <<-EOF >expect &&
 		error: Updating '\''fictional/a'\'' would lose untracked files in it
 	EOF
-	test_must_fail git --super-prefix fictional/ read-tree -u -m "$treeH" "$treeM" 2>actual &&
+	test_must_fail git read-tree --super-prefix fictional/ -u -m "$treeH" "$treeM" 2>actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
diff --git a/t/t5616-partial-clone.sh b/t/t5616-partial-clone.sh
index 037941b95d..f519d2a87a 100755
--- a/t/t5616-partial-clone.sh
+++ b/t/t5616-partial-clone.sh
@@ -644,6 +644,49 @@ test_expect_success 'repack does not loosen promisor objects' '
 	grep "loosen_unused_packed_objects/loosened:0" trace
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'lazy-fetch in submodule succeeds' '
+	# setup
+	test_config_global protocol.file.allow always &&
+
+	test_when_finished "rm -rf src-sub" &&
+	git init src-sub &&
+	git -C src-sub config uploadpack.allowfilter 1 &&
+	git -C src-sub config uploadpack.allowanysha1inwant 1 &&
+
+	# This blob must be missing in the subsequent commit.
+	echo foo >src-sub/file &&
+	git -C src-sub add file &&
+	git -C src-sub commit -m "submodule one" &&
+	SUB_ONE=$(git -C src-sub rev-parse HEAD) &&
+
+	echo bar >src-sub/file &&
+	git -C src-sub add file &&
+	git -C src-sub commit -m "submodule two" &&
+	SUB_TWO=$(git -C src-sub rev-parse HEAD) &&
+
+	test_when_finished "rm -rf src-super" &&
+	git init src-super &&
+	git -C src-super config uploadpack.allowfilter 1 &&
+	git -C src-super config uploadpack.allowanysha1inwant 1 &&
+	git -C src-super submodule add ../src-sub src-sub &&
+
+	git -C src-super/src-sub checkout $SUB_ONE &&
+	git -C src-super add src-sub &&
+	git -C src-super commit -m "superproject one" &&
+
+	git -C src-super/src-sub checkout $SUB_TWO &&
+	git -C src-super add src-sub &&
+	git -C src-super commit -m "superproject two" &&
+
+	# the fetch
+	test_when_finished "rm -rf client" &&
+	git clone --filter=blob:none --also-filter-submodules \
+		--recurse-submodules "file://$(pwd)/src-super" client &&
+
+	# Trigger lazy-fetch from the superproject
+	git -C client restore --recurse-submodules --source=HEAD^ :/
+'
+
 . "$TEST_DIRECTORY"/lib-httpd.sh
 start_httpd
 
diff --git a/t/t7412-submodule-absorbgitdirs.sh b/t/t7412-submodule-absorbgitdirs.sh
index 2859695c6d..f778321857 100755
--- a/t/t7412-submodule-absorbgitdirs.sh
+++ b/t/t7412-submodule-absorbgitdirs.sh
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ TEST_PASSES_SANITIZE_LEAK=true
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
 test_expect_success 'setup a real submodule' '
+	cwd="$(pwd)" &&
 	git init sub1 &&
 	test_commit -C sub1 first &&
 	git submodule add ./sub1 &&
@@ -18,13 +19,21 @@ test_expect_success 'setup a real submodule' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'absorb the git dir' '
+	>expect &&
+	>actual &&
 	>expect.1 &&
 	>expect.2 &&
 	>actual.1 &&
 	>actual.2 &&
 	git status >expect.1 &&
 	git -C sub1 rev-parse HEAD >expect.2 &&
-	git submodule absorbgitdirs &&
+	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
+	Migrating git directory of '\''sub1'\'' from
+	'\''$cwd/sub1/.git'\'' to
+	'\''$cwd/.git/modules/sub1'\''
+	EOF
+	git submodule absorbgitdirs 2>actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual &&
 	git fsck &&
 	test -f sub1/.git &&
 	test -d .git/modules/sub1 &&
@@ -37,7 +46,8 @@ test_expect_success 'absorb the git dir' '
 test_expect_success 'absorbing does not fail for deinitialized submodules' '
 	test_when_finished "git submodule update --init" &&
 	git submodule deinit --all &&
-	git submodule absorbgitdirs &&
+	git submodule absorbgitdirs 2>err &&
+	test_must_be_empty err &&
 	test -d .git/modules/sub1 &&
 	test -d sub1 &&
 	! test -e sub1/.git
@@ -56,7 +66,13 @@ test_expect_success 'setup nested submodule' '
 test_expect_success 'absorb the git dir in a nested submodule' '
 	git status >expect.1 &&
 	git -C sub1/nested rev-parse HEAD >expect.2 &&
-	git submodule absorbgitdirs &&
+	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
+	Migrating git directory of '\''sub1/nested'\'' from
+	'\''$cwd/sub1/nested/.git'\'' to
+	'\''$cwd/.git/modules/sub1/modules/nested'\''
+	EOF
+	git submodule absorbgitdirs 2>actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual &&
 	test -f sub1/nested/.git &&
 	test -d .git/modules/sub1/modules/nested &&
 	git status >actual.1 &&
@@ -87,7 +103,13 @@ test_expect_success 're-setup nested submodule' '
 test_expect_success 'absorb the git dir in a nested submodule' '
 	git status >expect.1 &&
 	git -C sub1/nested rev-parse HEAD >expect.2 &&
-	git submodule absorbgitdirs &&
+	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
+	Migrating git directory of '\''sub1'\'' from
+	'\''$cwd/sub1/.git'\'' to
+	'\''$cwd/.git/modules/sub1'\''
+	EOF
+	git submodule absorbgitdirs 2>actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual &&
 	test -f sub1/.git &&
 	test -f sub1/nested/.git &&
 	test -d .git/modules/sub1/modules/nested &&
@@ -97,6 +119,27 @@ test_expect_success 'absorb the git dir in a nested submodule' '
 	test_cmp expect.2 actual.2
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'absorb the git dir outside of primary worktree' '
+	test_when_finished "rm -rf repo-bare.git" &&
+	git clone --bare . repo-bare.git &&
+	test_when_finished "rm -rf repo-wt" &&
+	git -C repo-bare.git worktree add ../repo-wt &&
+
+	test_when_finished "rm -f .gitconfig" &&
+	test_config_global protocol.file.allow always &&
+	git -C repo-wt submodule update --init &&
+	git init repo-wt/sub2 &&
+	test_commit -C repo-wt/sub2 A &&
+	git -C repo-wt submodule add ./sub2 sub2 &&
+	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
+	Migrating git directory of '\''sub2'\'' from
+	'\''$cwd/repo-wt/sub2/.git'\'' to
+	'\''$cwd/repo-bare.git/worktrees/repo-wt/modules/sub2'\''
+	EOF
+	git -C repo-wt submodule absorbgitdirs 2>actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
 test_expect_success 'setup a gitlink with missing .gitmodules entry' '
 	git init sub2 &&
 	test_commit -C sub2 first &&
@@ -107,7 +150,11 @@ test_expect_success 'setup a gitlink with missing .gitmodules entry' '
 test_expect_success 'absorbing the git dir fails for incomplete submodules' '
 	git status >expect.1 &&
 	git -C sub2 rev-parse HEAD >expect.2 &&
-	test_must_fail git submodule absorbgitdirs &&
+	cat >expect <<-\EOF &&
+	fatal: could not lookup name for submodule '\''sub2'\''
+	EOF
+	test_must_fail git submodule absorbgitdirs 2>actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual &&
 	git -C sub2 fsck &&
 	test -d sub2/.git &&
 	git status >actual &&
@@ -127,8 +174,11 @@ test_expect_success 'setup a submodule with multiple worktrees' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'absorbing fails for a submodule with multiple worktrees' '
-	test_must_fail git submodule absorbgitdirs sub3 2>error &&
-	test_i18ngrep "not supported" error
+	cat >expect <<-\EOF &&
+	fatal: could not lookup name for submodule '\''sub2'\''
+	EOF
+	test_must_fail git submodule absorbgitdirs 2>actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_done
diff --git a/t/t7527-builtin-fsmonitor.sh b/t/t7527-builtin-fsmonitor.sh
index 4abc74db2b..76d0220daa 100755
--- a/t/t7527-builtin-fsmonitor.sh
+++ b/t/t7527-builtin-fsmonitor.sh
@@ -866,27 +866,9 @@ test_expect_success 'submodule always visited' '
 # the submodule, and someone does a `git submodule absorbgitdirs`
 # in the super, Git will recursively invoke `git submodule--helper`
 # to do the work and this may try to read the index.  This will
-# try to start the daemon in the submodule *and* pass (either
-# directly or via inheritance) the `--super-prefix` arg to the
-# `git fsmonitor--daemon start` command inside the submodule.
-# This causes a warning because fsmonitor--daemon does take that
-# global arg (see the table in git.c)
-#
-# This causes a warning when trying to start the daemon that is
-# somewhat confusing.  It does not seem to hurt anything because
-# the fsmonitor code maps the query failure into a trivial response
-# and does the work anyway.
-#
-# It would be nice to silence the warning, however.
-
-have_t2_error_event () {
-	log=$1
-	msg="fsmonitor--daemon doesnQt support --super-prefix" &&
-
-	tr '\047' Q <$1 | grep -e "$msg"
-}
+# try to start the daemon in the submodule.
 
-test_expect_success "stray submodule super-prefix warning" '
+test_expect_success "submodule absorbgitdirs implicitly starts daemon" '
 	test_when_finished "rm -rf super; \
 			    rm -rf sub;   \
 			    rm super-sub.trace" &&
@@ -904,10 +886,20 @@ test_expect_success "stray submodule super-prefix warning" '
 
 	test_path_is_dir super/dir_1/dir_2/sub/.git &&
 
+	cwd="$(cd super && pwd)" &&
+	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
+	Migrating git directory of '\''dir_1/dir_2/sub'\'' from
+	'\''$cwd/dir_1/dir_2/sub/.git'\'' to
+	'\''$cwd/.git/modules/dir_1/dir_2/sub'\''
+	EOF
 	GIT_TRACE2_EVENT="$PWD/super-sub.trace" \
-		git -C super submodule absorbgitdirs &&
+		git -C super submodule absorbgitdirs >out 2>actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual &&
+	test_must_be_empty out &&
 
-	! have_t2_error_event super-sub.trace
+	# Confirm that the trace2 log contains a record of the
+	# daemon starting.
+	test_subcommand git fsmonitor--daemon start <super-sub.trace
 '
 
 # On a case-insensitive file system, confirm that the daemon
diff --git a/unpack-trees.c b/unpack-trees.c
index d11bef96bf..ea09023b01 100644
--- a/unpack-trees.c
+++ b/unpack-trees.c
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ static const char *unpack_plumbing_errors[NB_UNPACK_TREES_WARNING_TYPES] = {
 	  ? ((o)->msgs[(type)])      \
 	  : (unpack_plumbing_errors[(type)]) )
 
-static const char *super_prefixed(const char *path)
+static const char *super_prefixed(const char *path, const char *super_prefix)
 {
 	/*
 	 * It is necessary and sufficient to have two static buffers
@@ -82,7 +82,6 @@ static const char *super_prefixed(const char *path)
 	static unsigned idx = ARRAY_SIZE(buf) - 1;
 
 	if (super_prefix_len < 0) {
-		const char *super_prefix = get_super_prefix();
 		if (!super_prefix) {
 			super_prefix_len = 0;
 		} else {
@@ -235,7 +234,8 @@ static int add_rejected_path(struct unpack_trees_options *o,
 		return -1;
 
 	if (!o->show_all_errors)
-		return error(ERRORMSG(o, e), super_prefixed(path));
+		return error(ERRORMSG(o, e), super_prefixed(path,
+							    o->super_prefix));
 
 	/*
 	 * Otherwise, insert in a list for future display by
@@ -262,7 +262,8 @@ static void display_error_msgs(struct unpack_trees_options *o)
 			error_displayed = 1;
 			for (i = 0; i < rejects->nr; i++)
 				strbuf_addf(&path, "\t%s\n", rejects->items[i].string);
-			error(ERRORMSG(o, e), super_prefixed(path.buf));
+			error(ERRORMSG(o, e), super_prefixed(path.buf,
+							     o->super_prefix));
 			strbuf_release(&path);
 		}
 		string_list_clear(rejects, 0);
@@ -289,7 +290,8 @@ static void display_warning_msgs(struct unpack_trees_options *o)
 			warning_displayed = 1;
 			for (i = 0; i < rejects->nr; i++)
 				strbuf_addf(&path, "\t%s\n", rejects->items[i].string);
-			warning(ERRORMSG(o, e), super_prefixed(path.buf));
+			warning(ERRORMSG(o, e), super_prefixed(path.buf,
+							       o->super_prefix));
 			strbuf_release(&path);
 		}
 		string_list_clear(rejects, 0);
@@ -311,7 +313,8 @@ static int check_submodule_move_head(const struct cache_entry *ce,
 	if (o->reset)
 		flags |= SUBMODULE_MOVE_HEAD_FORCE;
 
-	if (submodule_move_head(ce->name, old_id, new_id, flags))
+	if (submodule_move_head(ce->name, o->super_prefix, old_id, new_id,
+				flags))
 		return add_rejected_path(o, ERROR_WOULD_LOSE_SUBMODULE, ce->name);
 	return 0;
 }
@@ -414,6 +417,7 @@ static int check_updates(struct unpack_trees_options *o,
 	int i, pc_workers, pc_threshold;
 
 	trace_performance_enter();
+	state.super_prefix = o->super_prefix;
 	state.force = 1;
 	state.quiet = 1;
 	state.refresh_cache = 1;
@@ -444,7 +448,7 @@ static int check_updates(struct unpack_trees_options *o,
 
 		if (ce->ce_flags & CE_WT_REMOVE) {
 			display_progress(progress, ++cnt);
-			unlink_entry(ce);
+			unlink_entry(ce, o->super_prefix);
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -2958,8 +2962,8 @@ int bind_merge(const struct cache_entry * const *src,
 	if (a && old)
 		return o->quiet ? -1 :
 			error(ERRORMSG(o, ERROR_BIND_OVERLAP),
-			      super_prefixed(a->name),
-			      super_prefixed(old->name));
+			      super_prefixed(a->name, o->super_prefix),
+			      super_prefixed(old->name, o->super_prefix));
 	if (!a)
 		return keep_entry(old, o);
 	else
@@ -3020,7 +3024,7 @@ int stash_worktree_untracked_merge(const struct cache_entry * const *src,
 
 	if (worktree && untracked)
 		return error(_("worktree and untracked commit have duplicate entries: %s"),
-			     super_prefixed(worktree->name));
+			     super_prefixed(worktree->name, o->super_prefix));
 
 	return merged_entry(worktree ? worktree : untracked, NULL, o);
 }
diff --git a/unpack-trees.h b/unpack-trees.h
index 6ab0d74c84..3a7b3e5f00 100644
--- a/unpack-trees.h
+++ b/unpack-trees.h
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ struct unpack_trees_options {
 		     skip_cache_tree_update;
 	enum unpack_trees_reset_type reset;
 	const char *prefix;
+	const char *super_prefix;
 	int cache_bottom;
 	struct pathspec *pathspec;
 	merge_fn_t fn;