diff --git a/scripts/init-software.sh b/scripts/init-software.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..8a8a95a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/init-software.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# exit script if any command fails
+set -e
+set -o pipefail
+
+# Enable submodule update for software submodules
+git config --unset submodule.software/nvdla-workload.update || :
+git config --unset submodule.software/coremark.update || :
+git config --unset submodule.software/spec2017.update || :
+
+# Initialize local software submodules
+git submodule update --init --recursive software/nvdla-workload
+git submodule update --init --recursive software/coremark
+git submodule update --init --recursive software/spec2017
diff --git a/scripts/init-submodules-no-riscv-tools-nolog.sh b/scripts/init-submodules-no-riscv-tools-nolog.sh
index 13a6bbad..6f9202f0 100755
--- a/scripts/init-submodules-no-riscv-tools-nolog.sh
+++ b/scripts/init-submodules-no-riscv-tools-nolog.sh
@@ -47,11 +47,13 @@ cd "$CHIPYARD_DIR"
             generators/sha3 \
             generators/gemmini \
             sims/firesim \
-            software/nvdla-workload
+            software/nvdla-workload \
+            software/coremark \
+            software/firemarshal \
+            software/spec2017 \
             vlsi/hammer-cadence-plugins \
             vlsi/hammer-synopsys-plugins \
             vlsi/hammer-mentor-plugins \
-            software/firemarshal \
             fpga/fpga-shells
         do
             "$1" "${name%/}"