diff --git a/git-submodule.sh b/git-submodule.sh
index 727b1d3206..4aaaaab0d8 100755
--- a/git-submodule.sh
+++ b/git-submodule.sh
@@ -138,8 +138,8 @@ module_add()
 		# it is local
 		if base=$(get_repo_base "$repo"); then
 			repo="$base"
-			realrepo=$repo
 		fi
+		realrepo=$repo
 		;;
 	esac