diff --git a/.gitmodules b/.gitmodules
index c441234d6030..a84e0f36bcb2 100644
--- a/.gitmodules
+++ b/.gitmodules
@@ -2,11 +2,14 @@
 	path = dictionaries
 	url = ../dictionaries
 	branch = .
+    shallow = true
 [submodule "helpcontent2"]
 	path = helpcontent2
 	url = ../help
 	branch = .
+    shallow = true
 [submodule "translations"]
 	path = translations
 	url = ../translations
 	branch = .
+    shallow = true
diff --git a/g b/g
index 6363ce5666eb..d61723d88f2e 100755
--- a/g
+++ b/g
@@ -296,9 +296,9 @@ do_init_modules()
     done
     for module in $SUBMODULES_CONFIGURED ; do
         if [ -n "$REFERENCED_GIT" ] ; then
-            git submodule update --reference "$REFERENCED_GIT/.git/modules/$module" --progress "$module" || return $?
+            git submodule update --depth 1 --reference "$REFERENCED_GIT/.git/modules/$module" --progress "$module" || return $?
         else
-            git submodule update --progress "$module" || return $?
+            git submodule update --depth 1 --progress "$module" || return $?
         fi
     done
     return 0