diff --git a/lua/git/core/repo.lua b/lua/git/core/repo.lua
index 1b7fe11..d9a75ac 100644
--- a/lua/git/core/repo.lua
+++ b/lua/git/core/repo.lua
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ function Repo.new(gitdir, worktree)
         util.debounce(Repo._fetch_status, 50)
     self:start_watcher()
     self:refresh()
-    if vim.g.git_submodule_recursion then
+    if vim.g.git_submodule_recursion ~= false then
         self:_start_modules_watcher()
         for _, name in ipairs(find_submodules(gitdir)) do
             self:_register_submodule(name)
@@ -382,7 +382,7 @@ function Repo:_handle_fs_event(relpath)
         return
     end
     self:_invalidate(relpath)
-    if relpath == "modules" and vim.g.git_submodule_recursion then
+    if relpath == "modules" and vim.g.git_submodule_recursion ~= false then
         if vim.uv.fs_stat(vim.fs.joinpath(self.gitdir, "modules")) then
             self:_start_modules_watcher()
             for _, name in ipairs(find_submodules(self.gitdir)) do
diff --git a/test/git/repo_test.lua b/test/git/repo_test.lua
index 5ac0c57..366436d 100644
--- a/test/git/repo_test.lua
+++ b/test/git/repo_test.lua
@@ -218,21 +218,13 @@ t.test("refresh emits change.paths listing structurally-changed paths", function
     t.falsy(change.paths["b"], "b is unchanged structurally")
 end)
 
-t.test("submodule: parent enumerates initialized submodules with flag on", function()
-    vim.g.git_submodule_recursion = true
-    t.defer(function()
-        vim.g.git_submodule_recursion = nil
-    end)
+t.test("submodule: parent enumerates initialized submodules by default", function()
     local outer_path = h.make_submodule_repo()
     local outer = assert(require("git.core.repo").resolve(outer_path))
     t.truthy(outer._submodules["sub"], "sub recorded as submodule")
 end)
 
-t.test("submodule: recursion flag eagerly creates child Repos and subscribes", function()
-    vim.g.git_submodule_recursion = true
-    t.defer(function()
-        vim.g.git_submodule_recursion = nil
-    end)
+t.test("submodule: eagerly creates child Repos and subscribes by default", function()
     local outer_path = h.make_submodule_repo()
     local outer = assert(require("git.core.repo").resolve(outer_path))
     wait_initial(outer)
@@ -257,23 +249,23 @@ t.test("submodule: recursion flag eagerly creates child Repos and subscribes", f
     t.eq(entry.kind, "changed")
 end)
 
-t.test("submodule: no eager creation when flag is off", function()
+t.test("submodule: no eager creation when flag is explicitly disabled", function()
+    vim.g.git_submodule_recursion = false
+    t.defer(function()
+        vim.g.git_submodule_recursion = nil
+    end)
     local outer_path = h.make_submodule_repo()
     local outer = assert(require("git.core.repo").resolve(outer_path))
     wait_initial(outer)
     t.eq(
         require("git.core.repo").all()[outer_path .. "/sub"],
         nil,
-        "inner Repo not created when flag off"
+        "inner Repo not created when flag is false"
     )
     t.eq(next(outer._submodules), nil)
 end)
 
 t.test("submodule: outer created after inner picks up existing child", function()
-    vim.g.git_submodule_recursion = true
-    t.defer(function()
-        vim.g.git_submodule_recursion = nil
-    end)
     local outer_path = h.make_submodule_repo()
     local inner = assert(
         require("git.core.repo").resolve(outer_path .. "/sub")