diff --git a/compiler-cli/src/fs.rs b/compiler-cli/src/fs.rs
index cd50dabca..0a140b82a 100644
--- a/compiler-cli/src/fs.rs
+++ b/compiler-cli/src/fs.rs
@@ -685,7 +685,13 @@ pub fn git_submodule_add(
 ) -> Result<(), Error> {
     tracing::trace!(submodule=?name, repo=?url, path=?path, "cloning package as submodule");
 
-    if is_inside_git_work_tree(&root.join(path))? {
+    let submodule_path = root.join(path);
+    if submodule_path.try_exists().map_err(|e| Error::FileIo {
+        kind: FileKind::Directory,
+        action: FileIoAction::ReadMetadata,
+        path: submodule_path,
+        err: Some(e.to_string()),
+    })? {
         tracing::trace!(path=?path, "package_already_cloned");
         return Ok(());
     }