diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 1a57b5395f0a99a4396e769dcb1a3392ec6c195b..786ab087a789e12345012d241ca809b6ec3664ad 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 variables:
-  GIT_SUBMODULE_STRATEGY: recursive
+  GIT_SUBMODULE_STRATEGY: none
 
 stages:
   - build
@@ -7,5 +7,8 @@ stages:
 test:
   image: openjdk:8
   stage: build
+  before_script:
+    - git submodule sync --recursive
+    - git submodule update --force --recursive
   script:
     - ./gradlew --no-daemon build