diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 28cf6ac..9e2d3d6 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -47,6 +47,9 @@ func main() {
 		log.Info("yep, need to clone", argv.Repo)
 	} else {
 		log.Info("already have", argv.Repo)
+		if argv.Recursive {
+			recursiveClone()
+		}
 		build()
 		okExit(argv.Repo)
 	}
@@ -173,31 +176,34 @@ func gitPull() {
 	log.Info("Total repositories:", forge.Repos.Len(), "Total attempted:", trycount, "Errors:", errcount)
 }
 
+// really only does go.sum things
+// so not 'really' recursive
+// but that is because go.sum is supposed
+// to have everything required in it
 func recursiveClone() {
+	var good int
+	var bad int
 	// this works sometimes
 	if argv.Recursive {
-		newr := rv.FindByName(argv.Repo)
-		if newr == nil {
-			log.Info("how did this repo still not exist?", argv.Repo)
-			badExit(errors.New("failed to clone repo: " + argv.Repo))
-		}
-		os.Setenv("REPO_AUTO_CLONE", "true")
-		godep := newr.Status.GetGoDeps()
-		for gopath, version := range godep {
-			pb, err := forge.Clone(gopath)
+		check := forge.Repos.FindByGoPath(argv.Repo)
+
+		log.Info("download deps for:", check.GoPath)
+		deps := check.GoDeps.SortByGoPath()
+		for deps.Scan() {
+			depRepo := deps.Next()
+			log.Info("download:", depRepo.GoPath)
+			_, err := forge.Clone(depRepo.GoPath)
 			if err != nil {
-				log.Info("could not download")
-				badExit(err)
+				log.Info("could not download", depRepo.GoPath)
+				log.Info("err:", err)
+				bad += 1
+			} else {
+				log.Info("downloaded", depRepo.GoPath)
+				good += 1
 			}
-			repo, err := rv.AddRepo(pb)
-			if err != nil {
-				log.Info("git clone failed for", gopath, version)
-				continue
-			}
-			// always do this for now. probably always forever
-			repo.MakeRedoMod()
 		}
 	}
+	log.Info("got", good, "repos", "failed on", bad, "repos")
 }
 
 func redoGoModAll() {