diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 48c3d920003103dfc5ba9d4fc919213fdf67518c..acfecf90087aef413dc34a5031e997b8c11ad5ad 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ stages:
 
 .build_template:
    stage: build
+   variables:
+      - GIT_SUBMODULE_STRATEGY: normal
    script:
       - make realclean
       - make all
@@ -13,6 +15,7 @@ stages:
       variables:
          - $CI_PROJECT_URL == 'https://vcgit.hhi.fraunhofer.de/jvet/VVCSoftware_VTM'
          - $CI_MERGE_REQUEST_TARGET_BRANCH_NAME == 'master'
+         
 
 .build_template_linux:
    extends: .build_template