diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 740a8dce0599569f5893fd6073e558b60b0ee4d4..e915594e6672ef0207f2f85125a6c84b2edb0dd0 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
   image: docker.io/labrobotica/labrobotica
 
+  variables:
+    GIT_SUBMODULE_STRATEGY: recursive
+
   stages:
     - build
     - test
@@ -8,8 +11,8 @@
   build-package:
     stage: build
     script:
-      - git submodule sync --recursive
-      - git submodule update --init --recursive
+      #- git submodule sync --recursive
+      #- git submodule update --init --recursive
       - apt update
       - apt -y install iri-iriutils-dev iri-comm-dev iri-dynamixel-dev
       - apt -y install gcc-avr avr-libc #firmware dependencies