diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 05324b1626e262f8bbe605d88cdd60c6e4460c53..bdc82a440c087384af73bfdc4ffbb1612a9032de 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ test:
     - set -e
     - export GRADLE_USER_HOME=$PWD/.gradle
   script:
+    - git submodule update
     - ./gradlew --no-daemon :check
   after_script:
     # these file change every time and should not be cached