diff --git a/INSTALL.md b/INSTALL.md
index b0bee5d6746b3ea9f848c93742ba33540d75f2e9..8fcbc2189cfc6fee88bd19fe08e335e8a6c79f61 100644
--- a/INSTALL.md
+++ b/INSTALL.md
@@ -42,6 +42,15 @@ To update a dependency project (e.g. mamba) subtree please do
 git subtree pull --prefix=deps/mamba --squash git@gitlab.com:cerl/mamba.git master
 ```
 
+If `git` refuses to do the subtree update insisting 'repo was never added', create a remote for the repo, e.g.,
+
+```
+git remote add -f ofiwg  git@github.com:ofiwg/libfabric.git 
+```
+
+and use that repo name for the `subtree pull` command.
+
+
 
 # Building