diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index f05a6abb5f..236913f125 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -374,7 +374,8 @@ submodulesupdate:
 gazeboclean:
 	@rm -rf ~/.gazebo/*
 
-distclean: submodulesclean gazeboclean
+distclean: gazeboclean
+	@git submodule deinit -f .
 	@git clean -ff -x -d -e ".project" -e ".cproject" -e ".idea" -e ".settings" -e ".vscode"
 
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