diff --git a/git-submodule.sh b/git-submodule.sh
index 11c4bade1a..654a8cb8c9 100755
--- a/git-submodule.sh
+++ b/git-submodule.sh
@@ -464,8 +464,8 @@ cmd_update()
 			# Only mention uninitialized submodules when its
 			# path have been specified
 			test "$#" != "0" &&
-			say "Submodule path '$path' not initialized" &&
-			say "Maybe you want to use 'update --init'?"
+			say "$(eval_gettext "Submodule path '\$path' not initialized
+Maybe you want to use 'update --init'?")"
 			continue
 		fi
 
diff --git a/t/t7400-submodule-basic.sh b/t/t7400-submodule-basic.sh
index ea3b445b43..b2b26b72d0 100755
--- a/t/t7400-submodule-basic.sh
+++ b/t/t7400-submodule-basic.sh
@@ -357,7 +357,7 @@ test_expect_success 'update --init' '
 
 	git submodule update init > update.out &&
 	cat update.out &&
-	grep "not initialized" update.out &&
+	test_i18ngrep "not initialized" update.out &&
 	! test -d init/.git &&
 
 	git submodule update --init init &&