diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index baebf0ef33e18a9566c148ee3502eaaa3adb8450..082678c6f0ddb43174878e9953d91f869ae77376 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ build:
 
 tests:
   stage: test
+  variables:
+    GIT_SUBMODULE_STRATEGY: normal
   script:
     - cmake .
     - make test -j4