diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index b21fd7ba94..563830dd73 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ stages:
 
 variables:
     CARGO_HOME: /cache/cargocache
+    GIT_SUBMODULE_STRATEGY: normal
 
 check-fmt:
   stage: test