diff --git a/install_helpers/install_NFD.py b/install_helpers/install_NFD.py
index 171b2e6..cf70d03 100644
--- a/install_helpers/install_NFD.py
+++ b/install_helpers/install_NFD.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
     os.system("git clone https://github.com/named-data/NFD --depth 1")
     os.chdir("NFD")
     os.system("./waf distclean")
+    os.system("git submodule init && git submodule update")
     os.system("./waf configure")
     os.system("./waf -j1")
     os.system("sudo ./waf install")