diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 7421562..1afffb0 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -170,6 +170,7 @@ if(WITH_OTLP_GRPC)
        ${GRPC_PACKAGE_NAME}
        GIT_REPOSITORY ${GRPC_GIT_REPOSITORY}
        GIT_TAG ${GRPC_GIT_TAG}
+       GIT_SUBMODULES_RECURSE OFF
        PREFIX ${GRPC_PREFIX}
        UPDATE_DISCONNECTED 1
        PATCH_COMMAND ${GRPC_PATCH_CMD}