diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 773206f239..82f206b295 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -93,6 +93,8 @@ git clone git@github.com:[YOUR_FORK_HERE]/appwrite.git
 
 cd appwrite
 
+git submodule update --init
+
 docker compose build
 docker compose up -d
 ```