diff --git a/.gitmodules b/.gitmodules
deleted file mode 100644
index e69de29..0000000
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d207e80..ab45ed1 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ docker-compose repository for MaRDI
 
 ## Local installation
 ```
-git clone --recurse-submodules git@github.com:MaRDI4NFDI/portal-compose.git
+git clone git@github.com:MaRDI4NFDI/portal-compose.git
 cd portal-compose
 cp ./mediawiki/template.env ./.env
 ```