diff --git a/examples/rules.mk b/examples/rules.mk
index 56ad89fd0..59cf4fd1f 100644
--- a/examples/rules.mk
+++ b/examples/rules.mk
@@ -192,9 +192,7 @@ endif
 # get depenecies
 .PHONY: get-deps
 get-deps:
-  ifdef DEPS_SUBMODULES
 	$(PYTHON) $(TOP)/tools/get_deps.py $(DEPS_SUBMODULES)
-  endif
 
 .PHONY: size
 size: $(BUILD)/$(PROJECT).elf
diff --git a/tools/get_deps.py b/tools/get_deps.py
index 24e5f383a..574e5d089 100644
--- a/tools/get_deps.py
+++ b/tools/get_deps.py
@@ -104,9 +104,6 @@ def get_a_dep(d):
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
-    if len(sys.argv) <= 1:
-        sys.exit(1)
-
     status = 0
     deps = list(deps_mandatory.keys()) + sys.argv[1:]
     with Pool() as pool: