diff --git a/git-submodule.sh b/git-submodule.sh
index 22febb104c..e8112c8d1a 100755
--- a/git-submodule.sh
+++ b/git-submodule.sh
@@ -359,7 +359,20 @@ Use -f if you really want to add it." >&2
 		fi
 
 	else
-
+		if test -d ".git/modules/$sm_name"
+		then
+			if test -z "$force"
+			then
+				echo >&2 "$(eval_gettext "A git directory for '\$sm_name' is found locally with remote(s):")"
+				GIT_DIR=".git/modules/$sm_name" GIT_WORK_TREE=. git remote -v | grep '(fetch)' | sed -e s,^,"  ", -e s,' (fetch)',, >&2
+				echo >&2 "$(eval_gettext "If you want to reuse this local git directory instead of cloning again from")"
+				echo >&2 "  $realrepo"
+				echo >&2 "$(eval_gettext "use the '--force' option. If the local git directory is not the correct repo")"
+				die "$(eval_gettext "or you are unsure what this means choose another name with the '--name' option.")"
+			else
+				echo "$(eval_gettext "Reactivating local git directory for submodule '\$sm_name'.")"
+			fi
+		fi
 		module_clone "$sm_path" "$sm_name" "$realrepo" "$reference" || exit
 		(
 			clear_local_git_env
diff --git a/t/t7400-submodule-basic.sh b/t/t7400-submodule-basic.sh
index 78bf73938e..f1a94f7ca1 100755
--- a/t/t7400-submodule-basic.sh
+++ b/t/t7400-submodule-basic.sh
@@ -726,4 +726,34 @@ test_expect_success 'submodule add --name allows to replace a submodule with ano
 	)
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'submodule add with an existing name fails unless forced' '
+	(
+		cd addtest2 &&
+		rm -rf repo &&
+		git rm repo &&
+		test_must_fail git submodule add -q --name repo_new "$submodurl/repo.git" repo &&
+		test ! -d repo &&
+		echo "repo" >expect &&
+		git config -f .gitmodules submodule.repo_new.path >actual &&
+		test_cmp expect actual&&
+		echo "$submodurl/bare.git" >expect &&
+		git config -f .gitmodules submodule.repo_new.url >actual &&
+		test_cmp expect actual &&
+		echo "$submodurl/bare.git" >expect &&
+		git config submodule.repo_new.url >actual &&
+		test_cmp expect actual &&
+		git submodule add -f -q --name repo_new "$submodurl/repo.git" repo &&
+		test -d repo &&
+		echo "repo" >expect &&
+		git config -f .gitmodules submodule.repo_new.path >actual &&
+		test_cmp expect actual&&
+		echo "$submodurl/repo.git" >expect &&
+		git config -f .gitmodules submodule.repo_new.url >actual &&
+		test_cmp expect actual &&
+		echo "$submodurl/repo.git" >expect &&
+		git config submodule.repo_new.url >actual &&
+		test_cmp expect actual
+	)
+'
+
 test_done
diff --git a/t/t7406-submodule-update.sh b/t/t7406-submodule-update.sh
index 15426530e4..feaec6cdf4 100755
--- a/t/t7406-submodule-update.sh
+++ b/t/t7406-submodule-update.sh
@@ -627,7 +627,7 @@ test_expect_success 'submodule add properly re-creates deeper level submodules'
 	(cd super &&
 	 git reset --hard master &&
 	 rm -rf deeper/ &&
-	 git submodule add ../submodule deeper/submodule
+	 git submodule add --force ../submodule deeper/submodule
 	)
 '