diff --git a/bootstrap b/bootstrap
index a25549b72..55522f710 100755
--- a/bootstrap
+++ b/bootstrap
@@ -1,11 +1,13 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 
+set -eu
+
 if ! git --version >/dev/null; then
   echo "git not installed"
   exit 1
 fi
 
-#git submodule update --init
+git submodule update --init
 
 # Generate taler-error-codes.h in gana and copy it to
 # src/include/taler_error_codes.h