diff --git a/src/darwin/Framework/chip_xcode_build_connector.sh b/src/darwin/Framework/chip_xcode_build_connector.sh
index eb88853c847b54..c950a2e14fbba7 100755
--- a/src/darwin/Framework/chip_xcode_build_connector.sh
+++ b/src/darwin/Framework/chip_xcode_build_connector.sh
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ find_in_ancestors() {
     fi
 
     # there are environments where these bits are unwanted, unnecessary, or impossible
-    [[ -n $CHIP_NO_SUBMODULES ]] || git submodule update --init
+    [[ -n $CHIP_NO_SUBMODULES ]] || scripts/checkout_submodules.py --shallow --platform darwin
     if [[ -z $CHIP_NO_ACTIVATE ]]; then
         # first run bootstrap/activate in an external env to build everything
         env -i PW_ENVSETUP_NO_BANNER=1 PW_ENVSETUP_QUIET=1 bash -c '. scripts/activate.sh'