diff --git a/PKGBUILD b/PKGBUILD
index 916d450ae766d..3b85156399036 100644
--- a/PKGBUILD
+++ b/PKGBUILD
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ sha256sums=(
 _PREFIX="/usr"
 prepare() {
 	cd "${srcdir}/nextpnr"
+	git submodule update --init
 	[ ! -d "${srcdir}/nextpnr/build-nexus" ] && mkdir build-nexus
 }
 
diff --git a/PKGBUILD.in b/PKGBUILD.in
index 4e6315648f70d..759b306c54d22 100644
--- a/PKGBUILD.in
+++ b/PKGBUILD.in
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ sha256sums=(
 _PREFIX="/usr"
 prepare() {
 	cd "${srcdir}/nextpnr"
+	git submodule update --init
 	[ ! -d "${srcdir}/nextpnr/build-nexus" ] && mkdir build-nexus
 }