diff --git a/tools/CMakeLists.txt b/tools/CMakeLists.txt
index e093fef25..77eafd0cd 100644
--- a/tools/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/tools/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -19,9 +19,6 @@ endif()
 
 set(SOF_ROOT_SOURCE_DIRECTORY "${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/..")
 
-# checkout submodules
-include(${SOF_ROOT_SOURCE_DIRECTORY}/scripts/cmake/git-submodules.cmake)
-
 # Most (too) verbose, keep this one first (assuming -j1)
 add_subdirectory(topology)
 # Includes test/topology/