diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 85a9567435125b08aefa196957072778253c3500..87338cba4b211091d6df2ca17c50fbb4304f2b35 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ cache:
     - output/ # Node modules and dependencies
 
 before_script:
-  - apt-get update
   - 'which ssh-agent || ( apt-get update -y && apt-get install openssh-client -y )'
   - eval $(ssh-agent -s)
   - ssh-add <(echo "$SSH_PRIVATE_KEY")
@@ -15,7 +14,8 @@ before_script:
 build:
   stage: build
   script:
-    - apt-get install -y --force-yes build-essential python-dev python-pip
+    - apt-get install -y --force-yes build-essential python-dev python-pip git
+    - git submodule update --recursive --remote
     - pip install --editable .
     - pelican content