diff --git a/.github/workflows/test.yml b/.github/workflows/test.yml
index 83ccb9bd..1b5de3d5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test.yml
@@ -45,6 +45,10 @@ jobs:
           if pip-licenses | grep -E -v 'Artistic License|LGPL|Public Domain' | grep GNU; then echo 'Please avoid introducing *GPL dependencies'; false; fi
       - uses: tj-actions/changed-files@v45
         id: file_changes
+        with:
+          # Only run pre-commit on EV files themselves, not on submodules
+          # See https://github.com/EveryVoiceTTS/EveryVoice/issues/555
+          exclude_submodules: true
       - name: Custom replacement for pre-commit/action
         # pre-commit/action is not compatible with conda-incubator/setup-miniconda because it sets the shell wrong.
         run: python -m pre_commit run --show-diff-on-failure --color=always --files ${{ steps.file_changes.outputs.all_changed_files }}