diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 156c11d9b..9c7aef73f 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -504,8 +504,7 @@ pot:
 	$(MAKE) -C l10n push
 
 po:
-	$(MAKE) -i -C l10n bootstrap
-	$(MAKE) -C l10n pull
+	git submodule update --remote l10n
 
 
 static-check:
diff --git a/kodev b/kodev
index 4f8b7d154..0c1ac28f9 100755
--- a/kodev
+++ b/kodev
@@ -388,6 +388,7 @@ ${SUPPORTED_RELEASE_TARGETS}"
         shift 1
     done
 
+    check_submodules
     if [ "${ignore_translation}" -eq 0 ]; then
         if command -v tx>/dev/null; then
             make po || {