diff --git a/reference/mongodb/configure.xml b/reference/mongodb/configure.xml
index 594ae7313a..b4cac64f44 100644
--- a/reference/mongodb/configure.xml
+++ b/reference/mongodb/configure.xml
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ extension=mongodb.so
 <![CDATA[
 $ git clone https://github.com/mongodb/mongo-hhvm-driver.git
 $ cd mongo-hhvm-driver
-$ git submodule sync && git submodule update --init
+$ git submodule sync && git submodule update --init --recursive
 ]]>
    </programlisting>
   </para>