diff --git a/.gitmodules b/.gitmodules
index e1505e70540..a0dba1f54bb 100644
--- a/.gitmodules
+++ b/.gitmodules
@@ -2,7 +2,9 @@
 	path = binutils
 	url = https://sourceware.org/git/binutils-gdb.git
 	branch = binutils-2_43-branch
-	shallow = true
+	# No shallow cloning because the server does not allow to request
+	# unadvertised objects. However, we need to pin specific git commits.
+	shallow = false
 [submodule "gcc"]
 	path = gcc
 	url = https://gcc.gnu.org/git/gcc.git