1 files changed, 4 insertions, 1 deletions
diff --git a/git-submodule.sh b/git-submodule.sh
index 7f6b3cf207..b010a67309 100755
--- a/git-submodule.sh
+++ b/git-submodule.sh
@@ -488,8 +488,11 @@ cmd_update()
 
 			if test -z "$nofetch"
 			then
+				# Run fetch only if $sha1 isn't present or it
+				# is not reachable from a ref.
 				(clear_local_git_env; cd "$path" &&
-					git-fetch) ||
+					((rev=$(git rev-list -n 1 $sha1 --not --all 2>/dev/null) &&
+					 test -z "$rev") || git-fetch)) ||
 				die "Unable to fetch in submodule path '$path'"
 			fi