diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index bef5330..d0beaa9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -3,3 +3,5 @@ links up crusty IRC old people and the strapping young lads (?) on d*scord
 built on [mdbf](https://github.com/kurisufriend/modular-discord-bot-fw) and [ircked](https://github.com/kurisufriend/ircked)
 
 put your token and path in `config.json`, point mbdf at it, and let 'er rip
+
+(you also need to initialize the submodule, `git submodule init` then `git submodule update` should do the trick)