diff --git a/python/MooseDocs/extensions/gitutils.py b/python/MooseDocs/extensions/gitutils.py
index aad5d3be4a03..d55d64eb83fd 100644
--- a/python/MooseDocs/extensions/gitutils.py
+++ b/python/MooseDocs/extensions/gitutils.py
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ class SubmoduleHashCommand(command.CommandComponent):
     def defaultSettings():
         settings = command.CommandComponent.defaultSettings()
         settings['url'] = (None, "If provided, prefix the hash with the url to create a link.")
+        settings['recursive'] = (None, "If provided, will pass --recursive argument to git.")
         return settings
 
     def createToken(self, parent, info, page, settings):
@@ -76,7 +77,8 @@ def createToken(self, parent, info, page, settings):
         else:
             check_dir = MooseDocs.ROOT_DIR
 
-        status = mooseutils.git_submodule_info(check_dir, '--recursive')
+        status = mooseutils.git_submodule_info(check_dir,
+                                               '--recursive' if settings["recursive"] else '.')
         for repo, ginfo in status.items():
             if repo.endswith(name):
                 url = settings['url']