diff --git a/tests/lcitool/Makefile.include b/tests/lcitool/Makefile.include
index cff7c0b814..6b215adcd1 100644
--- a/tests/lcitool/Makefile.include
+++ b/tests/lcitool/Makefile.include
@@ -13,5 +13,5 @@ lcitool:
 lcitool-help: lcitool
 
 lcitool-refresh:
-	$(call quiet-command, git submodule update --init $(SRC_PATH)/tests/lcitool/libvirt-ci)
+	$(call quiet-command, cd $(SRC_PATH) && git submodule update --init tests/lcitool/libvirt-ci)
 	$(call quiet-command, $(LCITOOL_REFRESH))