diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2ab2c15b16b4f..254eb16d5d301 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -43,9 +43,11 @@ See [Code Structure on Wiki](https://github.com/musescore/MuseScore/wiki/CodeStr
 
 If using git to download repo of entire code history, type:
 
-    git clone https://github.com/musescore/MuseScore.git
+    git clone  --recurse-submodules https://github.com/musescore/MuseScore.git
     cd MuseScore
 
+(The `--recurse-submodules` ensures that the [`muse_framework`](https://github.com/musescore/muse_framework) git submodule is checked out into the `muse/` subdirectory.)
+
 Otherwise, you can just download the latest source release tarball from the [Releases page](https://github.com/musescore/MuseScore/releases), and then from your download directory type:
 
     tar xzf MuseScore-x.x.x.tar.gz