diff --git a/themes/steeef.zsh-theme b/themes/steeef.zsh-theme
index bd3d516af..5c0dc1119 100755
--- a/themes/steeef.zsh-theme
+++ b/themes/steeef.zsh-theme
@@ -59,8 +59,8 @@ function steeef_chpwd {
 add-zsh-hook chpwd steeef_chpwd
 
 function steeef_precmd {
-    # check for untracked files, since vcs_info doesn't
-    if [[ -n $(git ls-files --other --exclude-standard 2> /dev/null) ]]; then
+    # check for untracked files or updated submodules, since vcs_info doesn't
+    if [[ -n $(git ls-files --other --exclude-standard 2> /dev/null) || -n $(git ls-files -m --exclude-standard 2> /dev/null) ]]; then
         PR_GIT_UPDATE=1
         FMT_BRANCH="(%{$fg[magenta]%}%b%u%c%{$fg[red]%}●${PR_RST})"
     else