diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 06d2d75f57..0372313d7a 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -91,6 +91,8 @@ git clone git@github.com:[YOUR_FORK_HERE]/appwrite.git
 
 cd appwrite
 
+git submodule update --init
+
 docker compose build
 docker compose up -d
 ```