diff --git a/system/updated/updated.py b/system/updated/updated.py
index a1a74c322c..0759c0a7aa 100755
--- a/system/updated/updated.py
+++ b/system/updated/updated.py
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ def init_overlay() -> None:
   run(["sudo"] + mount_cmd)
   run(["sudo", "chmod", "755", os.path.join(OVERLAY_METADATA, "work")])
 
-  git_diff = run(["git", "diff"], OVERLAY_MERGED)
+  git_diff = run(["git", "diff", "--submodule=diff"], OVERLAY_MERGED)
   params.put("GitDiff", git_diff)
   cloudlog.info(f"git diff output:\n{git_diff}")