diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index be58b3d..5756b0b 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@ bazel-mlir-tutorial
 bazel-out
 bazel-testlogs
 
+# git submodule
+externals
+
 # cmake related files
 # ignore the user specified CMake presets in subproject directories.
 /*/CMakeUserPresets.json