diff --git a/.gitmodules b/.gitmodules
index 10ac66bc7..8b97483c7 100644
--- a/.gitmodules
+++ b/.gitmodules
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 [submodule "PRIVATE"]
 	path = PRIVATE
-	url = ../../damask/PRIVATE.git
+  url = ../../damask/PRIVATE.git
+  branch = master