diff --git a/git_archive_all.py b/git_archive_all.py
index 904abce..553cc77 100755
--- a/git_archive_all.py
+++ b/git_archive_all.py
@@ -328,6 +328,9 @@ def walk_git_files(self, repo_path=''):
                     submodule_path = m.group(1)
                     submodule_path = path.join(repo_path, submodule_path)
 
+                    if self.is_file_excluded(repo_abspath, submodule_path, exclude_patterns):
+                        continue
+
                     for submodule_file_path in self.walk_git_files(submodule_path):
                         yield submodule_file_path
         except IOError: