diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 92f36c42d95503bbf909aaa73c9333a2ce98e528..3fc7a2e56616a74e8c82e51ed184e38026bf3337 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
+variables:
+  GIT_SUBMODULE_STRATEGY: normal
+
 before_script:
   - apt-get update
-  - git submodule update --init
+
 
 test-3.4:
   image: mmpe/wetb