diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index a24cad6b..0c4f2c2e 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 .core-defs:
   variables:
+    GIT_SUBMODULE_STRATEGY: recursive
     JNI_PATH: .
     CORENAME: picodrive