diff --git a/.github/templates/application/README.md.template b/.github/templates/application/README.md.template
index efe8ba22..1ded5b84 100644
--- a/.github/templates/application/README.md.template
+++ b/.github/templates/application/README.md.template
@@ -21,7 +21,8 @@ cmake --build .
 ```
 
 Pass `-DDMOD_DIR=/path/to/local/dmod` to build against a local dmod checkout
-instead of fetching `develop` from GitHub.
+instead of fetching `develop` from GitHub. The checkout needs its submodules (dmod keeps its compression
+library in one): `git clone --recursive`, or `git submodule update --init --recursive` in an existing one.
 
 ### Using Make
 
diff --git a/.github/templates/library/README.md.template b/.github/templates/library/README.md.template
index 97e533a0..44c9d62a 100644
--- a/.github/templates/library/README.md.template
+++ b/.github/templates/library/README.md.template
@@ -21,7 +21,8 @@ cmake --build .
 ```
 
 Pass `-DDMOD_DIR=/path/to/local/dmod` to build against a local dmod checkout
-instead of fetching `develop` from GitHub.
+instead of fetching `develop` from GitHub. The checkout needs its submodules (dmod keeps its compression
+library in one): `git clone --recursive`, or `git submodule update --init --recursive` in an existing one.
 
 ### Using Make
 
diff --git a/docs/tools-installation.md b/docs/tools-installation.md
index a21349de..0e512f1f 100644
--- a/docs/tools-installation.md
+++ b/docs/tools-installation.md
@@ -420,7 +420,7 @@ docker pull chocotechnologies/dmod:1.0.4
 docker run -it -v $(pwd):/workspace -w /workspace chocotechnologies/dmod:1.0.4 bash
 
 # Option B: Install tools locally
-git clone https://github.com/choco-technologies/dmod.git
+git clone --recursive https://github.com/choco-technologies/dmod.git
 cd dmod
 cmake -DDMOD_MODE=DMOD_SYSTEM -DDMOD_BUILD_TOOLS=ON -B build -S .
 cmake --build build/