gitpython-developers · Byron · Jul 24, 2025 · Jul 22, 2025 · Jul 23, 2025
diff --git a/git/objects/submodule/base.py b/git/objects/submodule/base.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 import stat
 import sys
 import uuid
+import urllib

 import git
 from git.cmd import Git
@@ -799,9 +800,13 @@ def update(
                    + "Cloning url '%s' to '%s' in submodule %r" % (self.url, checkout_module_abspath, self.name),
                )
                if not dry_run:
+                    if self.url.startswith("."):
+                        url = urllib.parse.urljoin(self.repo.remotes.origin.url + "/", self.url)
+                    else:
+                        url = self.url
                    mrepo = self._clone_repo(
                        self.repo,
-                        self.url,
+                        url,
                        self.path,
                        self.name,
                        n=True,

diff --git a/test/test_submodule.py b/test/test_submodule.py
@@ -1350,3 +1350,23 @@ def test_submodule_update_unsafe_options_allowed(self, rw_repo):
            for unsafe_option in unsafe_options:
                with self.assertRaises(GitCommandError):
                    submodule.update(clone_multi_options=[unsafe_option], allow_unsafe_options=True)
+
+    @with_rw_directory
+    @_patch_git_config("protocol.file.allow", "always")
+    def test_submodule_update_relative_url(self, rwdir):
+        parent_path = osp.join(rwdir, "parent")
+        parent_repo = git.Repo.init(parent_path)
+        submodule_path = osp.join(rwdir, "module")
+        submodule_repo = git.Repo.init(submodule_path)
+        submodule_repo.git.commit(m="initial commit", allow_empty=True)
+
+        parent_repo.git.submodule("add", "../module", "module")
+        parent_repo.index.commit("add submodule with relative URL")
+
+        cloned_path = osp.join(rwdir, "cloned_repo")
+        cloned_repo = git.Repo.clone_from(parent_path, cloned_path)
+
+        cloned_repo.submodule_update(init=True, recursive=True)
+
+        has_module = any(sm.name == "module" for sm in cloned_repo.submodules)
+        assert has_module, "Relative submodule was not updated properly"