diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index eb44569784c41e056da3f7d23181c8a6550f4849..81846b495e262b2c2efea685db2488c741a000bd 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 # Brandi L. Cantarel - 2017
 
 variables:
-  GIT_SUBMODULE_STRATEGY: recursive
+  GIT_SUBMODULE_STRATEGY: normal
 
 before_script:
   - module load nextflow/20.01.0