diff --git a/Documentation/gitmodules.txt b/Documentation/gitmodules.txt
index ac70eca321..b97b331ad5 100644
--- a/Documentation/gitmodules.txt
+++ b/Documentation/gitmodules.txt
@@ -79,6 +79,11 @@ submodule.<name>.ignore::
 	"--ignore-submodule" option. The 'git submodule' commands are not
 	affected by this setting.
 
+submodule.<name>.shallow::
+	When set to true, a clone of this submodule will be performed as a
+	shallow clone unless the user explicitely asks for a non-shallow
+	clone.
+
 
 EXAMPLES
 --------