diff --git a/scripts/init-fpga.sh b/scripts/init-fpga.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..08203259
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/init-fpga.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# exit script if any command fails
+set -e
+set -o pipefail
+
+# Enable submodule update for FPGA tools.
+git config --unset submodule.fpga/fpga-shells.update
+# Initialize local FPGA tools.
+git submodule update --init --recursive fpga/fpga-shells
+# Disable submodule update for FPGA tools.
+git config submodule.fpga/fpga-shells.update none
diff --git a/scripts/init-submodules-no-riscv-tools-nolog.sh b/scripts/init-submodules-no-riscv-tools-nolog.sh
index cede5e47..c243a86f 100755
--- a/scripts/init-submodules-no-riscv-tools-nolog.sh
+++ b/scripts/init-submodules-no-riscv-tools-nolog.sh
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ git config submodule.vlsi/hammer-cadence-plugins.update none
 git config submodule.vlsi/hammer-synopsys-plugins.update none
 git config submodule.vlsi/hammer-mentor-plugins.update none
 git config submodule.software/firemarshal.update none
+# Disable updates to the local FPGA tools
+git config submodule.fpga/fpga-shells.update none
 git submodule update --init --recursive #--jobs 8
 
 # Un-ignore toolchain submodules