diff --git a/.gitmodules b/.gitmodules
index a3555a1e7e..2ead9c068e 100644
--- a/.gitmodules
+++ b/.gitmodules
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@
 [submodule "server/external/spdlog"]
 	path = server/external/spdlog
 	url = https://github.com/gabime/spdlog.git
+	branch = master
 [submodule "cmake/external/FeaturizersLibrary"]
 	path = cmake/external/FeaturizersLibrary
 	url = https://github.com/microsoft/FeaturizersLibrary.git