diff --git a/git-submodule.sh b/git-submodule.sh
index 170186f494..9ebbab798d 100755
--- a/git-submodule.sh
+++ b/git-submodule.sh
@@ -839,10 +839,11 @@ cmd_sync()
 		if test -e "$path"/.git
 		then
 		(
+			say "Synchronizing submodule url for '$name'"
+			git config submodule."$name".url "$url"
 			clear_local_git_env
 			cd "$path"
 			remote=$(get_default_remote)
-			say "Synchronizing submodule url for '$name'"
 			git config remote."$remote".url "$url"
 		)
 		fi
diff --git a/t/t7403-submodule-sync.sh b/t/t7403-submodule-sync.sh
index bade2179b1..02522f9627 100755
--- a/t/t7403-submodule-sync.sh
+++ b/t/t7403-submodule-sync.sh
@@ -58,6 +58,9 @@ test_expect_success '"git submodule sync" should update submodule URLs' '
 	(cd super-clone/submodule &&
 	 git checkout master &&
 	 git pull
+	) &&
+	(cd super-clone &&
+	 test -d "$(git config submodule.submodule.url)"
 	)
 '