diff --git a/.circleci/check-commit.sh b/.circleci/check-commit.sh
index a282ebfd..18a7b649 100755
--- a/.circleci/check-commit.sh
+++ b/.circleci/check-commit.sh
@@ -12,8 +12,12 @@ source $SCRIPT_DIR/defaults.sh
 # enter bhd repo
 cd $LOCAL_CHIPYARD_DIR
 
+# ignore the private vlsi submodules
+git config submodule.vlsi/hammer-cadence-plugins.update none
+git config submodule.vlsi/hammer-mentor-plugins.update none
+git config submodule.vlsi/hammer-synopsys-plugins.update none
+
 # initialize submodules and get the hashes
-git config submodule.vlsi/hammer-cad-plugins.update none
 git submodule update --init
 status=$(git submodule status)