diff --git a/builtin/add.c b/builtin/add.c
index e888fb8c5f..6f271512f8 100644
--- a/builtin/add.c
+++ b/builtin/add.c
@@ -116,6 +116,7 @@ int add_files_to_cache(const char *prefix,
 	rev.diffopt.output_format = DIFF_FORMAT_CALLBACK;
 	rev.diffopt.format_callback = update_callback;
 	rev.diffopt.format_callback_data = &data;
+	rev.diffopt.flags |= DIFF_OPT_OVERRIDE_SUBMODULE_CONFIG;
 	rev.max_count = 0; /* do not compare unmerged paths with stage #2 */
 	run_diff_files(&rev, DIFF_RACY_IS_MODIFIED);
 	return !!data.add_errors;
diff --git a/builtin/reset.c b/builtin/reset.c
index 046403ed68..772d078b85 100644
--- a/builtin/reset.c
+++ b/builtin/reset.c
@@ -156,6 +156,7 @@ static int read_from_tree(const struct pathspec *pathspec,
 	opt.output_format = DIFF_FORMAT_CALLBACK;
 	opt.format_callback = update_index_from_diff;
 	opt.format_callback_data = &intent_to_add;
+	opt.flags |= DIFF_OPT_OVERRIDE_SUBMODULE_CONFIG;
 
 	if (do_diff_cache(tree_oid, &opt))
 		return 1;