diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index adbac0ea121c2646a89b9fbc00947ecc3ac2bd6b..3d2a97031b61815cdd906bcb0f96e52b26dbcd6f 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 image: hpclib/scalfmm
 
+variables:
+  GIT_SUBMODULE_STRATEGY: normal
+
 stages:
   - build
   - test