diff --git a/.gitmodules b/.gitmodules
index cdcab6d0..9550905f 100644
--- a/.gitmodules
+++ b/.gitmodules
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 [submodule "external/abseil-cpp"]
 	path = external/abseil-cpp
 	url = https://github.com/abseil/abseil-cpp
-	branch = master
+	branch = lts_2019_08_08
 [submodule "external/benchmark"]
 	path = external/benchmark
 	url = https://github.com/google/benchmark