@@ -239,6 +239,13 @@ OPTIONS
 --quiet::
 	Only print error messages.
 
+--progress::
+	This option is only valid for add and update commands.
+	Progress status is reported on the standard error stream
+	by default when it is attached to a terminal, unless -q
+	is specified. This flag forces progress status even if the
+	standard error stream is not directed to a terminal.
+
 --all::
 	This option is only valid for the deinit command. Unregister all
 	submodules in the working tree.

@@ -117,6 +117,9 @@ cmd_add()
 		-q|--quiet)
 			GIT_QUIET=1
 			;;
+		--progress)
+			progress="--progress"
+			;;
 		--reference)
 			case "$2" in '') usage ;; esac
 			reference_path=$2

@@ -255,7 +258,7 @@ or you are unsure what this means choose another name with the '--name' option."
 				eval_gettextln "Reactivating local git directory for submodule '\$sm_name'."
 			fi
 		fi
-		git submodule--helper clone ${GIT_QUIET:+--quiet} --prefix "$wt_prefix" --path "$sm_path" --name "$sm_name" --url "$realrepo" ${reference:+"$reference"} ${depth:+"$depth"} || exit
+		git submodule--helper clone ${GIT_QUIET:+--quiet} ${progress:+"$progress"} --prefix "$wt_prefix" --path "$sm_path" --name "$sm_name" --url "$realrepo" ${reference:+"$reference"} ${depth:+"$depth"} || exit
 		(
 			sanitize_submodule_env
 			cd "$sm_path" &&

@@ -126,6 +126,37 @@ test_expect_success 'submodule add' '
 	test_cmp empty untracked
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'setup test repo' '
+	mkdir parent &&
+	(cd parent && git init &&
+	 echo one >file && git add file &&
+	 git commit -m one)
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'clone -o' '
+	git clone -o foo parent clone-o &&
+	(cd clone-o && git rev-parse --verify refs/remotes/foo/master)
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'redirected submodule add does not show progress' '
+	(
+		cd addtest &&
+		git submodule add "file://$submodurl/parent" submod-redirected \
+			>out 2>err &&
+		! grep % err &&
+		test_i18ngrep ! "Checking connectivity" err
+	)
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'redirected submodule add --progress does show progress' '
+	(
+		cd addtest &&
+		git submodule add --progress "file://$submodurl/parent" \
+			submod-redirected-progress >out 2>err && \
+		grep % err
+	)
+'
+
 test_expect_success 'submodule add to .gitignored path fails' '
 	(
 		cd addtest-ignore &&