diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 44b24ddd..64db0e2f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -67,6 +67,12 @@ nix-shell
 
 ### Building and running
 
+First, initialize the git submodule for the cloned repository
+
+```sh
+git submodule update --init
+```
+
 Finally, we can simulate a basic system with a single Linux guest with the
 following commands:
 ```sh