diff --git a/common/git_utils.go b/common/git_utils.go
index a7e76e2..720173d 100644
--- a/common/git_utils.go
+++ b/common/git_utils.go
@@ -904,6 +904,7 @@ func (e *GitHandlerImpl) GitSubmoduleList(gitPath, commitId string) (submoduleLi
 				for _, te := range tree.items {
 					if te.isTree() {
 						trees[p+te.name+"/"] = te.hash
+						submoduleList[p+te.name] = te.hash
 					} else if te.isSubmodule() {
 						submoduleList[p+te.name] = te.hash
 					}
diff --git a/obs-staging-bot/main.go b/obs-staging-bot/main.go
index fd14c37..68275d5 100644
--- a/obs-staging-bot/main.go
+++ b/obs-staging-bot/main.go
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import (
 	"net/url"
 	"os"
 	"path"
+	"path/filepath"
 	"regexp"
 	"runtime/debug"
 	"slices"
@@ -109,161 +110,67 @@ const (
 	BuildStatusSummaryUnknown  = 4
 )
 
-func ProcessBuildStatus(project, refProject *common.BuildResultList) BuildStatusSummary {
-	if _, finished := refProject.BuildResultSummary(); !finished {
-		common.LogDebug("refProject not finished building??")
-		return BuildStatusSummaryUnknown
-	}
-
+func ProcessBuildStatus(project *common.BuildResultList) BuildStatusSummary {
 	if _, finished := project.BuildResultSummary(); !finished {
 		common.LogDebug("Still building...")
 		return BuildStatusSummaryBuilding
 	}
 
-	// the repositories should be setup equally between the projects. We
-	// need to verify that packages that are building in `refProject` are not
-	// failing in the `project`
-	BuildResultSorter := func(a, b *common.BuildResult) int {
-		if c := strings.Compare(a.Repository, b.Repository); c != 0 {
-			return c
-		}
-		if c := strings.Compare(a.Arch, b.Arch); c != 0 {
-			return c
-		}
+	//slices.SortFunc(project.Result, BuildResultSorter)
 
-		panic("Should not happen -- BuiltResultSorter equal repos?")
-	}
-	slices.SortFunc(project.Result, BuildResultSorter)
-	if refProject == nil {
-		// just return if buid finished and have some successes, since new package
-		common.LogInfo("New package. Only need some success...")
-		SomeSuccess := false
-		for i := 0; i < len(project.Result); i++ {
-			repoRes := project.Result[i]
-			repoResStatus, ok := common.ObsRepoStatusDetails[repoRes.Code]
-			if !ok {
-				common.LogDebug("cannot find code:", repoRes.Code)
-				return BuildStatusSummaryUnknown
-			}
-			if !repoResStatus.Finished {
-				return BuildStatusSummaryBuilding
-			}
-
-			for _, pkg := range repoRes.Status {
-				pkgStatus, ok := common.ObsBuildStatusDetails[pkg.Code]
-				if !ok {
-					common.LogInfo("Unknown package build status:", pkg.Code, "for", pkg.Package)
-					common.LogDebug("Details:", pkg.Details)
-				}
-
-				if pkgStatus.Success {
-					SomeSuccess = true
-				}
-			}
-		}
-
-		if SomeSuccess {
-			return BuildStatusSummarySuccess
-		}
-		return BuildStatusSummaryFailed
-	}
-
-	slices.SortFunc(refProject.Result, BuildResultSorter)
-
-	common.LogDebug("comparing results", len(project.Result), "vs. ref", len(refProject.Result))
-	SomeSuccess := false
+	common.LogDebug("build results", len(project.Result))
 	for i := 0; i < len(project.Result); i++ {
 		common.LogDebug("searching for", project.Result[i].Repository, "/", project.Result[i].Arch)
 		j := 0
 	found:
-		for ; j < len(refProject.Result); j++ {
-			if project.Result[i].Repository != refProject.Result[j].Repository ||
-				project.Result[i].Arch != refProject.Result[j].Arch {
-				continue
-			}
-
+		for j = 0; j < len(project.Result); j++ {
 			common.LogDebug("  found match for @ idx:", j)
-			res, success := ProcessRepoBuildStatus(project.Result[i].Status, refProject.Result[j].Status)
+			res := ProcessRepoBuildStatus(project.Result[i].Status)
 			switch res {
 			case BuildStatusSummarySuccess:
-				SomeSuccess = SomeSuccess || success
 				break found
+			case BuildStatusSummaryFailed:
+				return BuildStatusSummaryFailed
 			default:
 				return res
 			}
 		}
-
-		if j >= len(refProject.Result) {
-			common.LogDebug("Cannot find results...")
-			common.LogDebug(project.Result[i])
-			common.LogDebug(refProject.Result)
-			return BuildStatusSummaryUnknown
-		}
 	}
 
-	if SomeSuccess {
-		return BuildStatusSummarySuccess
-	}
-
-	return BuildStatusSummaryFailed
+	return BuildStatusSummarySuccess
 }
 
-func ProcessRepoBuildStatus(results, ref []*common.PackageBuildStatus) (status BuildStatusSummary, SomeSuccess bool) {
-	PackageBuildStatusSorter := func(a, b *common.PackageBuildStatus) int {
-		return strings.Compare(a.Package, b.Package)
-	}
+func ProcessRepoBuildStatus(results []*common.PackageBuildStatus) (status BuildStatusSummary) {
+
+ 	PackageBuildStatusSorter := func(a, b *common.PackageBuildStatus) int {
+ 	        return strings.Compare(a.Package, b.Package)
+ 	}
 
-	common.LogDebug("********  REF: ")
-	data, _ := xml.MarshalIndent(ref, "", "  ")
-	common.LogDebug(string(data))
 	common.LogDebug("******* RESULTS: ")
-	data, _ = xml.MarshalIndent(results, "", "  ")
+	data, _ := xml.MarshalIndent(results, "", "  ")
 	common.LogDebug(string(data))
 	common.LogDebug("*******")
 
 	// compare build result
 	slices.SortFunc(results, PackageBuildStatusSorter)
-	slices.SortFunc(ref, PackageBuildStatusSorter)
 
-	j := 0
-	SomeSuccess = false
 	for i := 0; i < len(results); i++ {
 		res, ok := common.ObsBuildStatusDetails[results[i].Code]
 		if !ok {
 			common.LogInfo("unknown package result code:", results[i].Code, "for package:", results[i].Package)
-			return BuildStatusSummaryUnknown, SomeSuccess
+			return BuildStatusSummaryUnknown
 		}
 
 		if !res.Finished {
-			return BuildStatusSummaryBuilding, SomeSuccess
+			return BuildStatusSummaryBuilding
 		}
 
 		if !res.Success {
-			// not failed if reference project also failed for same package here
-			for ; j < len(results) && strings.Compare(results[i].Package, ref[j].Package) < 0; j++ {
-			}
-
-			if j < len(results) && results[i].Package == ref[j].Package {
-				refRes, ok := common.ObsBuildStatusDetails[ref[j].Code]
-				if !ok {
-					common.LogInfo("unknown ref package result code:", ref[j].Code, "package:", ref[j].Package)
-					return BuildStatusSummaryUnknown, SomeSuccess
-				}
-
-				if !refRes.Finished {
-					common.LogDebug("Not finished building in reference project?")
-				}
-
-				if refRes.Success {
-					return BuildStatusSummaryFailed, SomeSuccess
-				}
-			}
-		} else {
-			SomeSuccess = true
+			return BuildStatusSummaryFailed
 		}
 	}
 
-	return BuildStatusSummarySuccess, SomeSuccess
+	return BuildStatusSummarySuccess
 }
 
 func GenerateObsPrjMeta(git common.Git, gitea common.Gitea, pr *models.PullRequest, stagingPrj, buildPrj string, stagingMasterPrj string) (*common.ProjectMeta, error) {
@@ -322,9 +229,9 @@ func GenerateObsPrjMeta(git common.Git, gitea common.Gitea, pr *models.PullReque
 		common.LogError("error fetching project meta for", buildPrj, ". Err:", err)
 		return nil, err
 	}
+	common.LogInfo("Meta: ", meta)
 
 	// generate new project with paths pointinig back to original repos
-	// disable publishing
 
 	meta.Name = stagingPrj
 	meta.Description = fmt.Sprintf(`Pull request build job PR#%d to branch %s of %s/%s`,
@@ -339,7 +246,10 @@ func GenerateObsPrjMeta(git common.Git, gitea common.Gitea, pr *models.PullReque
 
 	urlPkg := make([]string, 0, len(modifiedOrNew))
 	for _, pkg := range modifiedOrNew {
-		urlPkg = append(urlPkg, "onlybuild="+url.QueryEscape(pkg))
+		// FIXME: skip manifest subdirectories itself
+		// strip any leading directory name and just hand over last directory as package name
+		onlybuilds := strings.Split(pkg, "/")
+		urlPkg = append(urlPkg, "onlybuild="+url.QueryEscape(onlybuilds[len(onlybuilds)-1]))
 	}
 	meta.ScmSync = pr.Head.Repo.CloneURL + "?" + strings.Join(urlPkg, "&") + "#" + pr.Head.Sha
 	if len(meta.ScmSync) >= 65535 {
@@ -824,10 +734,13 @@ func ProcessPullRequest(gitea common.Gitea, org, repo string, id int64) (bool, e
 		if !stagingConfig.RebuildAll {
 			for pkg, headOid := range headSubmodules {
 				if baseOid, exists := baseSubmodules[pkg]; !exists || baseOid != headOid {
+					if pkg != "rpms" && pkg != "dependencies" {
+					_, spkg := filepath.Split(pkg)
 					if exists {
-						modifiedPackages = append(modifiedPackages, pkg)
+						modifiedPackages = append(modifiedPackages, spkg)
 					} else {
-						newPackages = append(newPackages, pkg)
+						newPackages = append(newPackages, spkg)
+					}
 					}
 					common.LogDebug(pkg, ":", baseOid, "->", headOid)
 				}
@@ -931,15 +844,11 @@ func ProcessPullRequest(gitea common.Gitea, org, repo string, id int64) (bool, e
 			gitea.AddComment(pr, msg)
 		}
 
-		baseResult, err := ObsClient.LastBuildResults(stagingConfig.ObsProject, modifiedPackages...)
-		if err != nil {
-			common.LogError("failed fetching ref project status for", stagingConfig.ObsProject, ":", err)
-		}
 		stagingResult, err := ObsClient.BuildStatus(stagingProject)
 		if err != nil {
 			common.LogError("failed fetching stage project status for", stagingProject, ":", err)
 		}
-		buildStatus := ProcessBuildStatus(stagingResult, baseResult)
+		buildStatus := ProcessBuildStatus(stagingResult)
 
 		done := false
 		switch buildStatus {
diff --git a/workflow-direct/main.go b/workflow-direct/main.go
index 041ae56..fde24b4 100644
--- a/workflow-direct/main.go
+++ b/workflow-direct/main.go
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ func processConfiguredRepositoryAction(action *common.RepositoryWebhookEvent, co
 			common.LogError("   - ", action.Repository.Name, "repo is not sha256. Ignoring.")
 			return
 		}
-		common.PanicOnError(git.GitExec(gitPrj, "submodule", "--quiet", "add", "--depth", "1", action.Repository.Clone_Url, action.Repository.Name))
+		common.PanicOnError(git.GitExec(gitPrj, "submodule", "--quiet", "add", "--depth", "1", "../" + action.Repository.Name, action.Repository.Name))
 		defer git.GitExecQuietOrPanic(gitPrj, "submodule", "deinit", "--all", "-f")
 
 		branch := strings.TrimSpace(git.GitExecWithOutputOrPanic(path.Join(gitPrj, action.Repository.Name), "branch", "--show-current"))
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ func processConfiguredPushAction(action *common.PushWebhookEvent, config *common
 	}
 
 	if stat, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(git.GetPath(), gitPrj, action.Repository.Name)); err != nil {
-		git.GitExecOrPanic(gitPrj, "submodule", "--quiet", "add", "--depth", "1", action.Repository.Clone_Url, action.Repository.Name)
+		git.GitExecOrPanic(gitPrj, "submodule", "--quiet", "add", "--depth", "1", "../" + action.Repository.Name, action.Repository.Name)
 		common.LogDebug("Pushed to package that is not part of the project. Re-adding...", err)
 	} else if !stat.IsDir() {
 		common.LogError("Pushed to a package that is not a submodule but exists in the project. Ignoring.")
@@ -402,7 +402,7 @@ next_repo:
 		}
 
 		// add repository to git project
-		common.PanicOnError(git.GitExec(gitPrj, "submodule", "--quiet", "add", "--depth", "1", r.CloneURL, r.Name))
+		common.PanicOnError(git.GitExec(gitPrj, "submodule", "--quiet", "add", "--depth", "1", "../" + r.Name, r.Name))
 
 		curBranch := strings.TrimSpace(git.GitExecWithOutputOrPanic(path.Join(gitPrj, r.Name), "branch", "--show-current"))
 		if branch != curBranch {
diff --git a/workflow-pr/pr_processor.go b/workflow-pr/pr_processor.go
index 6128c95..a0c81b4 100644
--- a/workflow-pr/pr_processor.go
+++ b/workflow-pr/pr_processor.go
@@ -443,11 +443,11 @@ func (pr *PRProcessor) Process(req *models.PullRequest) error {
 						if _, ok := err.(*repository.RepoMergePullRequestConflict); !ok {
 							common.PanicOnError(err)
 						}
-					} else {
-						Gitea.AddComment(pr.PR, "Closing here because the associated Project PR has been closed.")
-						Gitea.UpdatePullRequest(org, repo, idx, &models.EditPullRequestOption{
-							State: "closed",
-						})
+//					} else {
+//						Gitea.AddComment(pr.PR, "Closing here because the associated Project PR has been closed.")
+//						Gitea.UpdatePullRequest(org, repo, idx, &models.EditPullRequestOption{
+//							State: "closed",
+//						})
 					}
 				}
 			}
@@ -460,10 +460,10 @@ func (pr *PRProcessor) Process(req *models.PullRequest) error {
 					continue
 				}
 			}
-		}
 
-		if err = pr.UpdatePrjGitPR(prset); err != nil {
-			return err
+			if err = pr.UpdatePrjGitPR(prset); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
 		}
 	}