diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index 6bd5acb335..c4acfec71a 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -26,4 +26,4 @@ VOLUME /qmk_firmware
 WORKDIR /qmk_firmware
 COPY . .
 
-CMD make $KEYBOARD:$KEYMAP
+CMD make clean ; make git-submodule ; make $KEYBOARD:$KEYMAP
diff --git a/docs/getting_started_build_tools.md b/docs/getting_started_build_tools.md
index 1f771b1a04..b72f52e189 100644
--- a/docs/getting_started_build_tools.md
+++ b/docs/getting_started_build_tools.md
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 This page describes setting up the build environment for QMK. These instructions cover AVR processors (such as the atmega32u4).
 
+After cloning the repo of QMK run `make git-submodule` once to download 3rd party libraries like ChibiOS.
+
 <!-- FIXME: We should have ARM instructions somewhere. -->
 
 Note: If it is your first time here, Check out the "Complete Newbs guide" instead
diff --git a/util/docker_build.sh b/util/docker_build.sh
index e7aeac8f3e..35839ac41e 100755
--- a/util/docker_build.sh
+++ b/util/docker_build.sh
@@ -47,4 +47,4 @@ dir=$(pwd -W 2>/dev/null) || dir=$PWD  # Use Windows path if on Windows
 
 # Run container and build firmware
 docker run --rm -it $usb_args -v "$dir":/qmk_firmware qmkfm/qmk_firmware \
-	make "$keyboard${keymap:+:$keymap}${target:+:$target}"
+	/bin/bash -c "make git-submodule; make \"$keyboard${keymap:+:$keymap}${target:+:$target}\""