diff --git a/tools/op.sh b/tools/op.sh
index d8de248c24..cde29efd8c 100755
--- a/tools/op.sh
+++ b/tools/op.sh
@@ -199,6 +199,17 @@ function op_setup() {
   op_check_openpilot_dir
   op_check_os
 
+  # Submodules must be present before uv sync: pyproject path sources
+  # (pandacan, opendbc, msgq, ...) live in the submodule checkouts.
+  echo "Getting git submodules..."
+  st="$(date +%s)"
+  if ! retry 3 git submodule update --jobs 4 --init --recursive; then
+    echo -e " ↳ [${RED}✗${NC}] Getting git submodules failed!"
+    return 1
+  fi
+  et="$(date +%s)"
+  echo -e " ↳ [${GREEN}✔${NC}] Submodules installed successfully in $((et - st)) seconds."
+
   echo "Installing dependencies..."
   st="$(date +%s)"
   SETUP_SCRIPT="tools/setup_dependencies.sh"
@@ -211,15 +222,6 @@ function op_setup() {
 
   op_activate_venv
 
-  echo "Getting git submodules..."
-  st="$(date +%s)"
-  if ! retry 3 git submodule update --jobs 4 --init --recursive; then
-    echo -e " ↳ [${RED}✗${NC}] Getting git submodules failed!"
-    return 1
-  fi
-  et="$(date +%s)"
-  echo -e " ↳ [${GREEN}✔${NC}] Submodules installed successfully in $((et - st)) seconds."
-
   echo "Pulling git lfs files..."
   st="$(date +%s)"
   if ! retry 3 git lfs pull; then