diff --git a/micropython.cmake b/micropython.cmake
index 34b9d62b2..97fc4afc6 100644
--- a/micropython.cmake
+++ b/micropython.cmake
@@ -1,6 +1,12 @@
 
 # This file is to be given as "make USER_C_MODULES=..." when building Micropython port
 
+if(ECHO_SUBMODULES)
+    list(APPEND GIT_SUBMODULES ${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/lvgl ${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/pycparser)
+elseif(NOT EXISTS ${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/lvgl/README.md)
+    message(FATAL_ERROR " lvgl not initialized.\n Run 'make BOARD=${MICROPY_BOARD} submodules'")
+endif()
+
 # Include LVGL component, ignore KCONFIG
 separate_arguments(LV_CFLAGS_ENV UNIX_COMMAND $ENV{LV_CFLAGS})
 
diff --git a/micropython.mk b/micropython.mk
index 2df5eaf29..c417fea99 100644
--- a/micropython.mk
+++ b/micropython.mk
@@ -100,3 +100,12 @@ SRC_USERMOD_LIB_C += $(shell find $(LVGL_DIR)/examples -type f -name "*.c")
 endif
 
 SRC_USERMOD_C += $(LVGL_MPY)
+
+# include lvgl submodule check in the micropython submodules rule.
+LVGL_SUBMODULES = lvgl pycparser
+submodules: lvgl_submodule
+lvgl_submodule:
+	$(ECHO) "Updating submodules: $(LVGL_SUBMODULES)"
+	$(Q)cd $(LVGL_BINDING_DIR) && git submodule sync $(LVGL_SUBMODULES)
+	$(Q)cd $(LVGL_BINDING_DIR) && git submodule update --init $(LVGL_SUBMODULES)
+.PHONY: lvgl_submodule