diff --git a/test/distrib/cpp/run_distrib_test.sh b/test/distrib/cpp/run_distrib_test.sh
index 6b2e043491f..4c5deeaaae9 100755
--- a/test/distrib/cpp/run_distrib_test.sh
+++ b/test/distrib/cpp/run_distrib_test.sh
@@ -31,11 +31,13 @@
 set -ex
 
 git clone $EXTERNAL_GIT_ROOT
-cd grpc
-
 # clone gRPC submodules, use data from locally cloned submodules where possible
-git submodule | awk -v EXTERNAL_GIT_ROOT=$EXTERNAL_GIT_ROOT/ '{ system("git \
-submodule update --init --reference " EXTERNAL_GIT_ROOT$2 " " $2) }'
+(cd /var/local/jenkins/grpc / && git submodule foreach 'cd /var/local/git/grpc \
+&& git submodule update --init --reference /var/local/jenkins/grpc/${name} \
+${name}')
+ 
+
+cd grpc
 
 cd third_party/protobuf && ./autogen.sh && \
 ./configure && make -j4 && make check && make install && ldconfig
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/grpc_check_generated_pb_files/check_pb_files.sh b/tools/dockerfile/grpc_check_generated_pb_files/check_pb_files.sh
index 4773a602a4c..71306bfb676 100755
--- a/tools/dockerfile/grpc_check_generated_pb_files/check_pb_files.sh
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/grpc_check_generated_pb_files/check_pb_files.sh
@@ -32,13 +32,13 @@ set -e
 
 mkdir -p /var/local/git
 git clone /var/local/jenkins/grpc /var/local/git/grpc
+# clone gRPC submodules, use data from locally cloned submodules where possible
+(cd /var/local/jenkins/grpc / && git submodule foreach 'cd /var/local/git/grpc \
+&& git submodule update --init --reference /var/local/jenkins/grpc/${name} \
+${name}')
 
 cd /var/local/git/grpc
 
-# clone gRPC submodules, use data from locally cloned submodules where possible
-git submodule | awk '{ system("git submodule update --init --reference \
-./../../jenkins/grpc/" $2 " " $2) }'
-
 # build grpc cpp plugin for generating grpc pb files
 make grpc_cpp_plugin
 
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_csharp/build_interop.sh b/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_csharp/build_interop.sh
index 6a0b2ef0605..8f7be9ba134 100755
--- a/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_csharp/build_interop.sh
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_csharp/build_interop.sh
@@ -33,15 +33,15 @@ set -e
 
 mkdir -p /var/local/git
 git clone /var/local/jenkins/grpc /var/local/git/grpc
+# clone gRPC submodules, use data from locally cloned submodules where possible
+(cd /var/local/jenkins/grpc / && git submodule foreach 'cd /var/local/git/grpc \
+&& git submodule update --init --reference /var/local/jenkins/grpc/${name} \
+${name}')
 
 # copy service account keys if available
 cp -r /var/local/jenkins/service_account $HOME || true
 
 cd /var/local/git/grpc
 
-# clone gRPC submodules, use data from locally cloned submodules where possible
-git submodule | awk '{ system("git submodule update --init --reference \
-./../../jenkins/grpc/" $2 " " $2) }'
-
 # build C# interop client & server
 tools/run_tests/run_tests.py -l csharp -c dbg --build_only
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_csharpcoreclr/build_interop.sh b/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_csharpcoreclr/build_interop.sh
index c2bb64e84b5..476b69b09ae 100755
--- a/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_csharpcoreclr/build_interop.sh
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_csharpcoreclr/build_interop.sh
@@ -33,15 +33,15 @@ set -e
 
 mkdir -p /var/local/git
 git clone /var/local/jenkins/grpc /var/local/git/grpc
+# clone gRPC submodules, use data from locally cloned submodules where possible
+(cd /var/local/jenkins/grpc / && git submodule foreach 'cd /var/local/git/grpc \
+&& git submodule update --init --reference /var/local/jenkins/grpc/${name} \
+${name}')
 
 # copy service account keys if available
 cp -r /var/local/jenkins/service_account $HOME || true
 
 cd /var/local/git/grpc
 
-# clone gRPC submodules, use data from locally cloned submodules where possible
-git submodule | awk '{ system("git submodule update --init --reference \
-./../../jenkins/grpc/" $2 " " $2) }'
-
 # build C# interop client & server
 tools/run_tests/run_tests.py -l csharp -c dbg --compiler coreclr --build_only
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_cxx/build_interop.sh b/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_cxx/build_interop.sh
index 47380c8a125..0822ed31052 100755
--- a/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_cxx/build_interop.sh
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_cxx/build_interop.sh
@@ -33,16 +33,16 @@ set -e
 
 mkdir -p /var/local/git
 git clone /var/local/jenkins/grpc /var/local/git/grpc
+# clone gRPC submodules, use data from locally cloned submodules where possible
+(cd /var/local/jenkins/grpc / && git submodule foreach 'cd /var/local/git/grpc \
+&& git submodule update --init --reference /var/local/jenkins/grpc/${name} \
+${name}')
 
 # copy service account keys if available
 cp -r /var/local/jenkins/service_account $HOME || true
 
 cd /var/local/git/grpc
 
-# clone gRPC submodules, use data from locally cloned submodules where possible
-git submodule | awk '{ system("git submodule update --init --reference \
-./../../jenkins/grpc/" $2 " " $2) }'
-
 make install-certs
 
 # build C++ interop client & server
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_http2/build_interop.sh b/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_http2/build_interop.sh
index 3adc8394902..907ee6b3642 100755
--- a/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_http2/build_interop.sh
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_http2/build_interop.sh
@@ -33,10 +33,10 @@ set -e
 
 mkdir -p /var/local/git
 git clone /var/local/jenkins/grpc /var/local/git/grpc
-
 # clone gRPC submodules, use data from locally cloned submodules where possible
-(cd /var/local/git/grpc/ && exec git submodule | awk '{ system("git submodule \
-update --init --reference ./../../jenkins/grpc/" $2 " " $2) }')
+(cd /var/local/jenkins/grpc / && git submodule foreach 'cd /var/local/git/grpc \
+&& git submodule update --init --reference /var/local/jenkins/grpc/${name} \
+${name}')
 
 # copy service account keys if available
 cp -r /var/local/jenkins/service_account $HOME || true
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_node/build_interop.sh b/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_node/build_interop.sh
index 4b73bb56f80..30dc8a67046 100755
--- a/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_node/build_interop.sh
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_node/build_interop.sh
@@ -33,16 +33,16 @@ set -e
 
 mkdir -p /var/local/git
 git clone /var/local/jenkins/grpc /var/local/git/grpc
+# clone gRPC submodules, use data from locally cloned submodules where possible
+(cd /var/local/jenkins/grpc / && git submodule foreach 'cd /var/local/git/grpc \
+&& git submodule update --init --reference /var/local/jenkins/grpc/${name} \
+${name}')
 
 # copy service account keys if available
 cp -r /var/local/jenkins/service_account $HOME || true
 
 cd /var/local/git/grpc
 
-# clone gRPC submodules, use data from locally cloned submodules where possible
-git submodule | awk '{ system("git submodule update --init --reference \
-./../../jenkins/grpc/" $2 " " $2) }'
-
 # build Node interop client & server
 npm install -g node-gyp
 npm install --unsafe-perm --build-from-source
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_php/build_interop.sh b/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_php/build_interop.sh
index 48a6444821a..0fef66e512b 100755
--- a/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_php/build_interop.sh
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_php/build_interop.sh
@@ -33,16 +33,16 @@ set -ex
 
 mkdir -p /var/local/git
 git clone /var/local/jenkins/grpc /var/local/git/grpc
+# clone gRPC submodules, use data from locally cloned submodules where possible
+(cd /var/local/jenkins/grpc / && git submodule foreach 'cd /var/local/git/grpc \
+&& git submodule update --init --reference /var/local/jenkins/grpc/${name} \
+${name}')
 
 # copy service account keys if available
 cp -r /var/local/jenkins/service_account $HOME || true
 
 cd /var/local/git/grpc
 
-# clone gRPC submodules, use data from locally cloned submodules where possible
-git submodule | awk '{ system("git submodule update --init --reference \
-./../../jenkins/grpc/" $2 " " $2) }'
-
 rvm --default use ruby-2.1
 
 # gRPC core and protobuf need to be installed
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_php7/build_interop.sh b/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_php7/build_interop.sh
index c2348f4f666..5d891c6c0b3 100755
--- a/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_php7/build_interop.sh
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_php7/build_interop.sh
@@ -33,16 +33,16 @@ set -ex
 
 mkdir -p /var/local/git
 git clone /var/local/jenkins/grpc /var/local/git/grpc
+# clone gRPC submodules, use data from locally cloned submodules where possible
+(cd /var/local/jenkins/grpc / && git submodule foreach 'cd /var/local/git/grpc \
+&& git submodule update --init --reference /var/local/jenkins/grpc/${name} \
+${name}')
 
 # copy service account keys if available
 cp -r /var/local/jenkins/service_account $HOME || true
 
 cd /var/local/git/grpc
 
-# clone gRPC submodules, use data from locally cloned submodules where possible
-git submodule | awk '{ system("git submodule update --init --reference \
-./../../jenkins/grpc/" $2 " " $2) }'
-
 rvm --default use ruby-2.1
 
 # gRPC core and protobuf need to be installed
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_python/build_interop.sh b/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_python/build_interop.sh
index e85153f51a0..4ffd2a63c39 100755
--- a/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_python/build_interop.sh
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_python/build_interop.sh
@@ -33,14 +33,14 @@ set -e
 
 mkdir -p /var/local/git
 git clone /var/local/jenkins/grpc /var/local/git/grpc
+# clone gRPC submodules, use data from locally cloned submodules where possible
+(cd /var/local/jenkins/grpc / && git submodule foreach 'cd /var/local/git/grpc \
+&& git submodule update --init --reference /var/local/jenkins/grpc/${name} \
+${name}')
 
 # copy service account keys if available
 cp -r /var/local/jenkins/service_account $HOME || true
 
 cd /var/local/git/grpc
 
-# clone gRPC submodules, use data from locally cloned submodules where possible
-git submodule | awk '{ system("git submodule update --init --reference \
-./../../jenkins/grpc/" $2 " " $2) }'
-
 tools/run_tests/run_tests.py -l python -c opt --build_only
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_ruby/build_interop.sh b/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_ruby/build_interop.sh
index e5edb5335cb..68aa7a1643a 100755
--- a/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_ruby/build_interop.sh
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_ruby/build_interop.sh
@@ -33,16 +33,16 @@ set -e
 
 mkdir -p /var/local/git
 git clone /var/local/jenkins/grpc /var/local/git/grpc
+# clone gRPC submodules, use data from locally cloned submodules where possible
+(cd /var/local/jenkins/grpc / && git submodule foreach 'cd /var/local/git/grpc \
+&& git submodule update --init --reference /var/local/jenkins/grpc/${name} \
+${name}')
 
 # copy service account keys if available
 cp -r /var/local/jenkins/service_account $HOME || true
 
 cd /var/local/git/grpc
 
-# clone gRPC submodules, use data from locally cloned submodules where possible
-git submodule | awk '{ system("git submodule update --init --reference \
-./../../jenkins/grpc/" $2 " " $2) }'
-
 rvm --default use ruby-2.1
 
 # build Ruby interop client and server
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/stress_test/grpc_interop_stress_csharp/build_interop_stress.sh b/tools/dockerfile/stress_test/grpc_interop_stress_csharp/build_interop_stress.sh
index 84920860803..7f2d587e59a 100755
--- a/tools/dockerfile/stress_test/grpc_interop_stress_csharp/build_interop_stress.sh
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/stress_test/grpc_interop_stress_csharp/build_interop_stress.sh
@@ -33,16 +33,16 @@ set -e
 
 mkdir -p /var/local/git
 git clone /var/local/jenkins/grpc /var/local/git/grpc
+# clone gRPC submodules, use data from locally cloned submodules where possible
+(cd /var/local/jenkins/grpc / && git submodule foreach 'cd /var/local/git/grpc \
+&& git submodule update --init --reference /var/local/jenkins/grpc/${name} \
+${name}')
 
 # Copy service account keys if available
 cp -r /var/local/jenkins/service_account $HOME || true
 
 cd /var/local/git/grpc
 
-# clone gRPC submodules, use data from locally cloned submodules where possible
-git submodule | awk '{ system("git submodule update --init --reference \
-./../../jenkins/grpc/" $2 " " $2) }'
-
 # Build C++ metrics client (to query the metrics from csharp stress client)
 make metrics_client -j
 
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/stress_test/grpc_interop_stress_cxx/build_interop_stress.sh b/tools/dockerfile/stress_test/grpc_interop_stress_cxx/build_interop_stress.sh
index 9ab7aa07274..7332a8c1bbe 100755
--- a/tools/dockerfile/stress_test/grpc_interop_stress_cxx/build_interop_stress.sh
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/stress_test/grpc_interop_stress_cxx/build_interop_stress.sh
@@ -33,16 +33,16 @@ set -e
 
 mkdir -p /var/local/git
 git clone /var/local/jenkins/grpc /var/local/git/grpc
+# clone gRPC submodules, use data from locally cloned submodules where possible
+(cd /var/local/jenkins/grpc / && git submodule foreach 'cd /var/local/git/grpc \
+&& git submodule update --init --reference /var/local/jenkins/grpc/${name} \
+${name}')
 
 # copy service account keys if available
 cp -r /var/local/jenkins/service_account $HOME || true
 
 cd /var/local/git/grpc
 
-# clone gRPC submodules, use data from locally cloned submodules where possible
-git submodule | awk '{ system("git submodule update --init --reference \
-./../../jenkins/grpc/" $2 " " $2) }'
-
 make install-certs
 
 BUILD_TYPE=${BUILD_TYPE:=opt}
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/stress_test/grpc_interop_stress_go/build_interop_stress.sh b/tools/dockerfile/stress_test/grpc_interop_stress_go/build_interop_stress.sh
index de8430d6778..f0a54a43626 100755
--- a/tools/dockerfile/stress_test/grpc_interop_stress_go/build_interop_stress.sh
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/stress_test/grpc_interop_stress_go/build_interop_stress.sh
@@ -39,10 +39,10 @@ git clone --recursive /var/local/jenkins/grpc-go src/google.golang.org/grpc
 # Clone the 'grpc' repo. We just need this for the wrapper scripts under
 # grpc/tools/gcp/stress_tests
 git clone /var/local/jenkins/grpc /var/local/git/grpc
-
 # clone gRPC submodules, use data from locally cloned submodules where possible
-(cd /var/local/git/grpc/ && exec git submodule | awk '{ system("git submodule \
-update --init --reference ./../../jenkins/grpc/" $2 " " $2) }')
+(cd /var/local/jenkins/grpc / && git submodule foreach 'cd /var/local/git/grpc \
+&& git submodule update --init --reference /var/local/jenkins/grpc/${name} \
+${name}')
 
 # copy service account keys if available
 cp -r /var/local/jenkins/service_account $HOME || true
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/stress_test/grpc_interop_stress_java/build_interop_stress.sh b/tools/dockerfile/stress_test/grpc_interop_stress_java/build_interop_stress.sh
index ffffea18d21..dcd3a0644a2 100755
--- a/tools/dockerfile/stress_test/grpc_interop_stress_java/build_interop_stress.sh
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/stress_test/grpc_interop_stress_java/build_interop_stress.sh
@@ -37,10 +37,10 @@ git clone --recursive --depth 1 /var/local/jenkins/grpc-java /var/local/git/grpc
 
 # grpc repo (for metrics client and for the stress test wrapper scripts)
 git clone /var/local/jenkins/grpc /var/local/git/grpc
-
 # clone gRPC submodules, use data from locally cloned submodules where possible
-(cd /var/local/git/grpc/ && exec git submodule | awk '{ system("git submodule \
-update --init --reference ./../../jenkins/grpc/" $2 " " $2) }')
+(cd /var/local/jenkins/grpc / && git submodule foreach 'cd /var/local/git/grpc \
+&& git submodule update --init --reference /var/local/jenkins/grpc/${name} \
+${name}')
 
 # Copy service account keys if available
 cp -r /var/local/jenkins/service_account $HOME || true
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/stress_test/grpc_interop_stress_node/build_interop_stress.sh b/tools/dockerfile/stress_test/grpc_interop_stress_node/build_interop_stress.sh
index 4b73bb56f80..30dc8a67046 100755
--- a/tools/dockerfile/stress_test/grpc_interop_stress_node/build_interop_stress.sh
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/stress_test/grpc_interop_stress_node/build_interop_stress.sh
@@ -33,16 +33,16 @@ set -e
 
 mkdir -p /var/local/git
 git clone /var/local/jenkins/grpc /var/local/git/grpc
+# clone gRPC submodules, use data from locally cloned submodules where possible
+(cd /var/local/jenkins/grpc / && git submodule foreach 'cd /var/local/git/grpc \
+&& git submodule update --init --reference /var/local/jenkins/grpc/${name} \
+${name}')
 
 # copy service account keys if available
 cp -r /var/local/jenkins/service_account $HOME || true
 
 cd /var/local/git/grpc
 
-# clone gRPC submodules, use data from locally cloned submodules where possible
-git submodule | awk '{ system("git submodule update --init --reference \
-./../../jenkins/grpc/" $2 " " $2) }'
-
 # build Node interop client & server
 npm install -g node-gyp
 npm install --unsafe-perm --build-from-source
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/stress_test/grpc_interop_stress_php/build_interop_stress.sh b/tools/dockerfile/stress_test/grpc_interop_stress_php/build_interop_stress.sh
index 78bf32ce519..0f624bf3217 100755
--- a/tools/dockerfile/stress_test/grpc_interop_stress_php/build_interop_stress.sh
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/stress_test/grpc_interop_stress_php/build_interop_stress.sh
@@ -33,16 +33,16 @@ set -ex
 
 mkdir -p /var/local/git
 git clone /var/local/jenkins/grpc /var/local/git/grpc
+# clone gRPC submodules, use data from locally cloned submodules where possible
+(cd /var/local/jenkins/grpc / && git submodule foreach 'cd /var/local/git/grpc \
+&& git submodule update --init --reference /var/local/jenkins/grpc/${name} \
+${name}')
 
 # copy service account keys if available
 cp -r /var/local/jenkins/service_account $HOME || true
 
 cd /var/local/git/grpc
 
-# clone gRPC submodules, use data from locally cloned submodules where possible
-git submodule | awk '{ system("git submodule update --init --reference \
-./../../jenkins/grpc/" $2 " " $2) }'
-
 rvm --default use ruby-2.1
 
 make install-certs
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/stress_test/grpc_interop_stress_python/build_interop_stress.sh b/tools/dockerfile/stress_test/grpc_interop_stress_python/build_interop_stress.sh
index 3f85a868032..57b916ca4dd 100755
--- a/tools/dockerfile/stress_test/grpc_interop_stress_python/build_interop_stress.sh
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/stress_test/grpc_interop_stress_python/build_interop_stress.sh
@@ -33,16 +33,16 @@ set -e
 
 mkdir -p /var/local/git
 git clone /var/local/jenkins/grpc /var/local/git/grpc
+# clone gRPC submodules, use data from locally cloned submodules where possible
+(cd /var/local/jenkins/grpc / && git submodule foreach 'cd /var/local/git/grpc \
+&& git submodule update --init --reference /var/local/jenkins/grpc/${name} \
+${name}')
 
 # copy service account keys if available
 cp -r /var/local/jenkins/service_account $HOME || true
 
 cd /var/local/git/grpc
 
-# clone gRPC submodules, use data from locally cloned submodules where possible
-git submodule | awk '{ system("git submodule update --init --reference \
-./../../jenkins/grpc/" $2 " " $2) }'
-
 tools/run_tests/run_tests.py -l python -c opt --build_only
 
 # Build c++ interop client
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/stress_test/grpc_interop_stress_ruby/build_interop_stress.sh b/tools/dockerfile/stress_test/grpc_interop_stress_ruby/build_interop_stress.sh
index 09b6fb1e117..bb4d2fcd224 100755
--- a/tools/dockerfile/stress_test/grpc_interop_stress_ruby/build_interop_stress.sh
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/stress_test/grpc_interop_stress_ruby/build_interop_stress.sh
@@ -33,16 +33,16 @@ set -e
 
 mkdir -p /var/local/git
 git clone /var/local/jenkins/grpc /var/local/git/grpc
+# clone gRPC submodules, use data from locally cloned submodules where possible
+(cd /var/local/jenkins/grpc / && git submodule foreach 'cd /var/local/git/grpc \
+&& git submodule update --init --reference /var/local/jenkins/grpc/${name} \
+${name}')
 
 # Copy service account keys if available
 cp -r /var/local/jenkins/service_account $HOME || true
 
 cd /var/local/git/grpc
 
-# clone gRPC submodules, use data from locally cloned submodules where possible
-git submodule | awk '{ system("git submodule update --init --reference \
-./../../jenkins/grpc/" $2 " " $2) }'
-
 rvm --default use ruby-2.1
 
 # Build Ruby interop client and server
diff --git a/tools/run_tests/dockerize/docker_run.sh b/tools/run_tests/dockerize/docker_run.sh
index e57ceaf0ac8..d50ea81750b 100755
--- a/tools/run_tests/dockerize/docker_run.sh
+++ b/tools/run_tests/dockerize/docker_run.sh
@@ -38,9 +38,9 @@ then
   mkdir -p /var/local/git
   git clone "$EXTERNAL_GIT_ROOT" /var/local/git/grpc
   # clone gRPC submodules, use data from locally cloned submodules where possible
-  (cd var/local/git/grpc && exec git submodule | awk -v \
-  EXTERNAL_GIT_ROOT=$EXTERNAL_GIT_ROOT/ '{ system("git submodule update --init \
-  --reference " EXTERNAL_GIT_ROOT$2 " " $2) }')
+  (cd /var/local/jenkins/grpc / && git submodule foreach 'cd /var/local/git/grpc \
+  && git submodule update --init --reference /var/local/jenkins/grpc/${name} \
+  ${name}')
 else
   mkdir -p "/var/local/git/grpc/$RELATIVE_COPY_PATH"
   cp -r "$EXTERNAL_GIT_ROOT/$RELATIVE_COPY_PATH"/* "/var/local/git/grpc/$RELATIVE_COPY_PATH"
diff --git a/tools/run_tests/dockerize/docker_run_tests.sh b/tools/run_tests/dockerize/docker_run_tests.sh
index a1e94b29527..41d93e444d4 100755
--- a/tools/run_tests/dockerize/docker_run_tests.sh
+++ b/tools/run_tests/dockerize/docker_run_tests.sh
@@ -43,10 +43,10 @@ chown $(whoami) $XDG_CACHE_HOME
 
 mkdir -p /var/local/git
 git clone /var/local/jenkins/grpc /var/local/git/grpc
-
 # clone gRPC submodules, use data from locally cloned submodules where possible
-(cd /var/local/git/grpc/ && exec git submodule | awk '{ system("git submodule \
-update --init --reference ./../../jenkins/grpc/" $2 " " $2) }')
+(cd /var/local/jenkins/grpc / && git submodule foreach 'cd /var/local/git/grpc \
+&& git submodule update --init --reference /var/local/jenkins/grpc/${name} \
+${name}')
 
 mkdir -p reports