diff --git a/SourceGit/Git/Branch.cs b/SourceGit/Git/Branch.cs
index 05375b95..5410c9b6 100644
--- a/SourceGit/Git/Branch.cs
+++ b/SourceGit/Git/Branch.cs
@@ -26,27 +26,27 @@ namespace SourceGit.Git {
         /// <summary>
         ///     Branch name
         /// </summary>
-        public string Name { get; set; }
+        public string Name { get; set; } = "";
 
         /// <summary>
         ///     Full name.
         /// </summary>
-        public string FullName { get; set; }
+        public string FullName { get; set; } = "";
 
         /// <summary>
         ///     Head ref
         /// </summary>
-        public string Head { get; set; }
+        public string Head { get; set; } = "";
 
         /// <summary>
         ///     Subject for head ref.
         /// </summary>
-        public string HeadSubject { get; set; }
+        public string HeadSubject { get; set; } = "";
 
         /// <summary>
         ///     Is local branch
         /// </summary>
-        public bool IsLocal { get; set; }
+        public bool IsLocal { get; set; } = false;
 
         /// <summary>
         ///     Branch type.
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ namespace SourceGit.Git {
         /// <summary>
         ///     Remote name. Only used for remote branch
         /// </summary>
-        public string Remote { get; set; }
+        public string Remote { get; set; } = "";
 
         /// <summary>
         ///     Upstream. Only used for local branches.
diff --git a/SourceGit/UI/Dashboard.xaml b/SourceGit/UI/Dashboard.xaml
index b09f1b5e..478e14fb 100644
--- a/SourceGit/UI/Dashboard.xaml
+++ b/SourceGit/UI/Dashboard.xaml
@@ -445,12 +445,17 @@
                         <Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
                             <ColumnDefinition Width="*"/>
                             <ColumnDefinition Width="16"/>
+                            <ColumnDefinition Width="8"/>
+                            <ColumnDefinition Width="16"/>
                         </Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
 
                         <Label Grid.Column="0" x:Name="submoduleCount" Content="SUBMODULES" Style="{StaticResource Style.Label.GroupHeader}"/>
                         <Button Grid.Column="1" Click="OpenAddSubmodule" ToolTip="ADD SUBMODULE">
                             <Path Width="14" Height="14" Style="{StaticResource Style.Icon}" Data="{StaticResource Icon.Submodule}"/>
                         </Button>
+                        <Button Grid.Column="3" Click="UpdateSubmodule" ToolTip="UPDATE SUBMODULE">
+                            <Path Width="14" Height="14" Style="{StaticResource Style.Icon}" Data="{StaticResource Icon.Loading}"/>
+                        </Button>
                     </Grid>
                 </ToggleButton>
                 <DataGrid
diff --git a/SourceGit/UI/Dashboard.xaml.cs b/SourceGit/UI/Dashboard.xaml.cs
index 965e75df..df2c6e93 100644
--- a/SourceGit/UI/Dashboard.xaml.cs
+++ b/SourceGit/UI/Dashboard.xaml.cs
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ namespace SourceGit.UI {
                 foreach (var b in branches) {
                     if (b.IsLocal) {
                         MakeBranchNode(b, localBranchNodes, folders, states, "locals");            
-                    } else {
+                    } else if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(b.Remote)) {
                         RemoteNode remote = null;
 
                         if (!remoteMap.ContainsKey(b.Remote)) {
@@ -926,6 +926,13 @@ namespace SourceGit.UI {
             AddSubmodule.Show(repo);
         }
 
+        private void UpdateSubmodule(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e) {
+            Waiting.Show(() => {
+                var errs = repo.RunCommand("submodule update", PopupManager.UpdateStatus, true);
+                if (errs != null) App.RaiseError(errs);
+            });
+        }
+
         private void SubmoduleLostFocus(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e) {
             (sender as DataGrid).UnselectAll();
         }
diff --git a/SourceGit/UI/Waiting.xaml b/SourceGit/UI/Waiting.xaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..bf98f70a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/SourceGit/UI/Waiting.xaml
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+<UserControl x:Class="SourceGit.UI.Waiting"
+             xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
+             xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
+             xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006" 
+             xmlns:d="http://schemas.microsoft.com/expression/blend/2008"
+             mc:Ignorable="d" 
+             d:DesignHeight="160" d:DesignWidth="500" Height="200" Width="500">
+</UserControl>
diff --git a/SourceGit/UI/Waiting.xaml.cs b/SourceGit/UI/Waiting.xaml.cs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3c15c82e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/SourceGit/UI/Waiting.xaml.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+using System;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using System.Windows.Controls;
+
+namespace SourceGit.UI {
+
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     General waiting dialog.
+    /// </summary>
+    public partial class Waiting : UserControl {
+
+        /// <summary>
+        ///     Constructor.
+        /// </summary>
+        public Waiting() {
+            InitializeComponent();
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        ///     Show this dialog.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="job"></param>
+        public static void Show(Action job) {
+            var dialog = new Waiting();
+            PopupManager.Show(dialog);
+            PopupManager.Lock();
+            Task.Run(() => {
+                job.Invoke();
+                dialog.Dispatcher.Invoke(() => {
+                    PopupManager.Close(true);
+                });
+            });
+        }
+    }
+}