diff --git a/.gitmodules b/.gitmodules
index 1d5d04577..ad6530de9 100644
--- a/.gitmodules
+++ b/.gitmodules
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   path = panda
   url = ../../commaai/panda.git
 [submodule "opendbc"]
-  path = opendbc
+  path = opendbc_repo
   url = ../../commaai/opendbc.git
 [submodule "msgq"]
   path = msgq_repo
diff --git a/opendbc b/opendbc
deleted file mode 160000
index 39a534592..000000000
--- a/opendbc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Subproject commit 39a5345924d2414f05c40d258d359eb8412a0b03
diff --git a/opendbc b/opendbc
new file mode 120000
index 000000000..7cd9a5bd1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/opendbc
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+opendbc_repo/opendbc
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/opendbc_repo b/opendbc_repo
new file mode 160000
index 000000000..a40652d34
--- /dev/null
+++ b/opendbc_repo
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Subproject commit a40652d341ea3161a6a10001fa74284d9d650f8c
diff --git a/release/release_files.py b/release/release_files.py
index 159080743..be9ad75ed 100755
--- a/release/release_files.py
+++ b/release/release_files.py
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@ blacklist = [
   "panda/examples/",
   "panda/tests/safety/",
 
-  "opendbc/.*.dbc$",
-  "opendbc/generator/",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/.*.dbc$",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/generator/",
 
   "cereal/.*test.*",
   "^common/tests/",
@@ -74,55 +74,55 @@ whitelist = [
   "tinygrad_repo/tinygrad/.*.py",
 
   # TODO: do this automatically
-  "opendbc/comma_body.dbc",
-  "opendbc/chrysler_ram_hd_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc/chrysler_ram_dt_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc/chrysler_pacifica_2017_hybrid_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc/chrysler_pacifica_2017_hybrid_private_fusion.dbc",
-  "opendbc/gm_global_a_powertrain_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc/gm_global_a_object.dbc",
-  "opendbc/gm_global_a_chassis.dbc",
-  "opendbc/FORD_CADS.dbc",
-  "opendbc/ford_fusion_2018_adas.dbc",
-  "opendbc/ford_lincoln_base_pt.dbc",
-  "opendbc/honda_accord_2018_can_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc/acura_ilx_2016_can_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc/acura_rdx_2018_can_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc/acura_rdx_2020_can_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc/honda_civic_touring_2016_can_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc/honda_civic_hatchback_ex_2017_can_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc/honda_crv_touring_2016_can_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc/honda_crv_ex_2017_can_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc/honda_crv_ex_2017_body_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc/honda_crv_executive_2016_can_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc/honda_fit_ex_2018_can_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc/honda_odyssey_exl_2018_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc/honda_odyssey_extreme_edition_2018_china_can_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc/honda_insight_ex_2019_can_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc/acura_ilx_2016_nidec.dbc",
-  "opendbc/honda_civic_ex_2022_can_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc/hyundai_canfd.dbc",
-  "opendbc/hyundai_kia_generic.dbc",
-  "opendbc/hyundai_kia_mando_front_radar_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc/mazda_2017.dbc",
-  "opendbc/nissan_x_trail_2017_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc/nissan_leaf_2018_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc/subaru_global_2017_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc/subaru_global_2020_hybrid_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc/subaru_outback_2015_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc/subaru_outback_2019_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc/subaru_forester_2017_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc/toyota_tnga_k_pt_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc/toyota_new_mc_pt_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc/toyota_nodsu_pt_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc/toyota_adas.dbc",
-  "opendbc/toyota_tss2_adas.dbc",
-  "opendbc/vw_golf_mk4.dbc",
-  "opendbc/vw_mqb_2010.dbc",
-  "opendbc/tesla_can.dbc",
-  "opendbc/tesla_radar_bosch_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc/tesla_radar_continental_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc/tesla_powertrain.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/comma_body.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/chrysler_ram_hd_generated.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/chrysler_ram_dt_generated.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/chrysler_pacifica_2017_hybrid_generated.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/chrysler_pacifica_2017_hybrid_private_fusion.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/gm_global_a_powertrain_generated.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/gm_global_a_object.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/gm_global_a_chassis.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/FORD_CADS.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/ford_fusion_2018_adas.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/ford_lincoln_base_pt.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/honda_accord_2018_can_generated.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/acura_ilx_2016_can_generated.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/acura_rdx_2018_can_generated.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/acura_rdx_2020_can_generated.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/honda_civic_touring_2016_can_generated.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/honda_civic_hatchback_ex_2017_can_generated.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/honda_crv_touring_2016_can_generated.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/honda_crv_ex_2017_can_generated.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/honda_crv_ex_2017_body_generated.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/honda_crv_executive_2016_can_generated.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/honda_fit_ex_2018_can_generated.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/honda_odyssey_exl_2018_generated.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/honda_odyssey_extreme_edition_2018_china_can_generated.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/honda_insight_ex_2019_can_generated.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/acura_ilx_2016_nidec.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/honda_civic_ex_2022_can_generated.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/hyundai_canfd.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/hyundai_kia_generic.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/hyundai_kia_mando_front_radar_generated.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/mazda_2017.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/nissan_x_trail_2017_generated.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/nissan_leaf_2018_generated.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/subaru_global_2017_generated.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/subaru_global_2020_hybrid_generated.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/subaru_outback_2015_generated.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/subaru_outback_2019_generated.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/subaru_forester_2017_generated.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/toyota_tnga_k_pt_generated.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/toyota_new_mc_pt_generated.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/toyota_nodsu_pt_generated.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/toyota_adas.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/toyota_tss2_adas.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/vw_golf_mk4.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/vw_mqb_2010.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/tesla_can.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/tesla_radar_bosch_generated.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/tesla_radar_continental_generated.dbc",
+  "opendbc_repo/dbc/tesla_powertrain.dbc",
 ]
 
 
diff --git a/tools/cabana/SConscript b/tools/cabana/SConscript
index 04b768dc6..911ac9324 100644
--- a/tools/cabana/SConscript
+++ b/tools/cabana/SConscript
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ qt_libs = ['qt_util'] + base_libs
 
 cabana_env = qt_env.Clone()
 cabana_libs = [widgets, cereal, messaging, visionipc, replay_lib, 'panda', 'avutil', 'avcodec', 'avformat', 'bz2', 'zstd', 'curl', 'yuv', 'usb-1.0'] + qt_libs
-opendbc_path = '-DOPENDBC_FILE_PATH=\'"%s"\'' % (cabana_env.Dir("../../opendbc").abspath)
+opendbc_path = '-DOPENDBC_FILE_PATH=\'"%s"\'' % (cabana_env.Dir("../../opendbc/dbc").abspath)
 cabana_env['CXXFLAGS'] += [opendbc_path]
 
 # build assets