diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index b97c821..18035d8 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@ before_script:
 
 build image:
   stage: build
+  before_script:
+    - git submodule sync --recursive
+    - git submodule update --init --recursive
   script:
     - docker login -u $CI_REGISTRY_USER -p $CI_REGISTRY_PASSWORD $CI_REGISTRY
     - docker compose build libretranslate