diff --git a/git-submodule.sh b/git-submodule.sh
index 9e1e1f4410..3d1617fa9e 100755
--- a/git-submodule.sh
+++ b/git-submodule.sh
@@ -270,7 +270,6 @@ cmd_add()
 			;;
 		--reference=*)
 			reference="$1"
-			shift
 			;;
 		--name)
 			case "$2" in '') usage ;; esac