diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index d942d31cc..5e7791f0a 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -172,6 +172,15 @@ else()
   message(STATUS "Building without build tag")
 endif()
 
+# Update and init submodules by default
+if(NOT MANUAL_SUBMODULES)
+  find_package(Git)
+  if(GIT_FOUND)
+    message(STATUS "Initializing submodules")
+    execute_process(COMMAND git "submodule" "update" "--init" "--recursive" WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR})
+  endif()
+endif()
+
 if(NOT MANUAL_SUBMODULES)
   find_package(Git)
   if(GIT_FOUND)
@@ -239,7 +248,7 @@ endif()
 set_property(GLOBAL PROPERTY USE_FOLDERS ON)
 enable_testing()
 
-option(BUILD_DOCUMENTATION "Build the Doxygen documentation." ON)
+option(BUILD_DOCUMENTATION "Build the Doxygen documentation." OFF)
 option(BUILD_TESTS "Build tests." OFF)
 
 # Check whether we're on a 32-bit or 64-bit system