diff --git a/builtin/submodule--helper.c b/builtin/submodule--helper.c
index befcd2d0d9..557834fa73 100644
--- a/builtin/submodule--helper.c
+++ b/builtin/submodule--helper.c
@@ -2445,8 +2445,7 @@ static int update_submodule(struct update_data *update_data)
 			    update_data->displaypath);
 		if (res == 128)
 			exit(res);
-		else if (res)
-			return 1;
+		return 1;
 	}
 
 	return 0;