diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 59f15e09eb2362e3d2c01e9767e20537e3a44293..41d17e36fa32cdf8d580645c60eac72bcfcdca4b 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ variables:
   HELM_HELPERS_FILE: helm-eclipse.yml
   APP_HELM_NAME: cache
   DOCKER_FILE: app/deployment/ci/Dockerfile
+  GIT_SUBMODULE_STRATEGY: recursive
+  GIT_SUBMODULE_UPDATE_FLAGS: --remote --init --recursive
 
 stages:
   - test