diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 4b628f1..5c756d2 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 
 # place project specific paths in variables to make the rest of the script more generic
 variables:
+  GIT_SUBMODULE_STRATEGY: recursive
   LIB_RELEASE_FOLDER: 'Borepin\Borepin\bin\Release'
   UWP_RELEASE_FOLDER: 'Borepin\Borepin.UWP\bin\x86\Release'
   TEST_FOLDER: 'Tests\bin\Release'