diff --git a/git/objects/submodule/base.py b/git/objects/submodule/base.py
@@ -353,6 +353,11 @@ def _clone_repo(
                os.makedirs(module_abspath_dir)
            module_checkout_path = osp.join(str(repo.working_tree_dir), path)

        clone = git.Repo.clone_from(
            url,
            module_checkout_path,

diff --git a/test/test_submodule.py b/test/test_submodule.py
@@ -753,6 +753,22 @@ def test_add_empty_repo(self, rwdir):
            )
        # END for each checkout mode

    @with_rw_directory
    @_patch_git_config("protocol.file.allow", "always")
    def test_list_only_valid_submodules(self, rwdir):