diff --git a/t/t5537-fetch-shallow.sh b/t/t5537-fetch-shallow.sh
index 92948de7a0..9573a2655e 100755
--- a/t/t5537-fetch-shallow.sh
+++ b/t/t5537-fetch-shallow.sh
@@ -162,6 +162,8 @@ test_expect_success 'fetch --update-shallow' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'fetch --update-shallow into a repo with submodules' '
+	test_config_global protocol.file.allow always &&
+
 	git init a-submodule &&
 	test_commit -C a-submodule foo &&
 	git init repo-with-sub &&