diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 9e8e0e9..2c7fa3d 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -25,8 +25,13 @@ LDLIBS += -ldl
 
 base: $(BASE_BINS)
 
+# initialize glibc-all-in-one
+libc_ready:
+	git submodule update --init --recursive
+	cd glibc-all-in-one && ./update_list
+
 # populate the download_glibc_<version> rules
-$(addprefix download_glibc_, $(VERSIONS)):
+$(addprefix download_glibc_, $(VERSIONS)): libc_ready
 	@echo $@
 
 	version=$(patsubst download_glibc_%,%,$@); \