diff --git a/linux/Config.in b/linux/Config.in
index e8dc79c822..ca6b9a08b0 100644
--- a/linux/Config.in
+++ b/linux/Config.in
@@ -126,6 +126,12 @@ config BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_REPO_VERSION
 
 endif
 
+config BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_REPO_GIT_SUBMODULES
+	bool "Download also git submodules"
+	depends on BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_GIT
+	help
+	  Include git submodules in the kernel source tree.
+
 config BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_VERSION
 	string
 	default "6.8.6" if BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_LATEST_VERSION
diff --git a/linux/linux.mk b/linux/linux.mk
index 4e12b36c1f..16d9f19470 100644
--- a/linux/linux.mk
+++ b/linux/linux.mk
@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@ LINUX_SOURCE = $(notdir $(LINUX_TARBALL))
 else ifeq ($(BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_GIT),y)
 LINUX_SITE = $(call qstrip,$(BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_REPO_URL))
 LINUX_SITE_METHOD = git
+ifeq ($(BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_REPO_GIT_SUBMODULES),y)
+LINUX_GIT_SUBMODULES = YES
+endif
 else ifeq ($(BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_HG),y)
 LINUX_SITE = $(call qstrip,$(BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_REPO_URL))
 LINUX_SITE_METHOD = hg