diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 1e4c7ad0ace7a019401a779bb20600d99e4a300a..6509423da1c2f79080b8474e8fdf2d60ccf0cc22 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@ cache:
   paths:
   - install/
 
+variables:
+  GIT_SUBMODULE_STRATEGY: recursive
+
 dune:git--gcc:
   image: mathiwr/dune:latest
   script: