diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 7863292..f8a8748 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -53,6 +53,12 @@ Build:
     - autoscale
   except:
     - merge_requests
+  # checkout our submodules
+  variables:
+    GIT_SUBMODULE_STRATEGY: recursive
+  before_script:
+    - git submodule sync
+    - git submodule update --init --recursive
   script:
     - make $DISTRO
     - echo VERSION=$(cat version) >> variables.env