diff --git a/git/objects/submodule/root.py b/git/objects/submodule/root.py
index f2035e5b2..afe6117e9 100644
--- a/git/objects/submodule/root.py
+++ b/git/objects/submodule/root.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 )
 from git.exc import InvalidGitRepositoryError
 import git
+import os
 
 import logging
 
@@ -197,7 +198,13 @@ def update(self, previous_commit=None, recursive=True, force_remove=False, init=
 
                             if not dry_run:
                                 assert nn not in [r.name for r in rmts]
-                                smr = smm.create_remote(nn, sm.url)
+                                
+                                # Handle relative urls
+                                remoteUrl = sm.url
+                                if sm.url.startswith('..'):
+                                    remoteUrl = os.path.join(repo.remotes.origin.url, sm.url)
+                                # END handle relative url check
+                                smr = smm.create_remote(nn, remoteUrl)
                                 smr.fetch(progress=progress)
 
                                 # If we have a tracking branch, it should be available