diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index e0749b7ff..26eff640e 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -584,6 +584,8 @@ vs2017-x64:
     - win32-ps
   needs: []
   variables:
+    GIT_SUBMODULE_STRATEGY: recursive
+    GIT_SUBMODULE_DEPTH: 1
     PYTHONUTF8: "1"
   script:
     # FIXME: These should use --wrap-mode=nodownload but the Windows CI machines
@@ -615,6 +617,8 @@ vs2017-x64-static:
     - win32-ps
   needs: []
   variables:
+    GIT_SUBMODULE_STRATEGY: recursive
+    GIT_SUBMODULE_DEPTH: 1
     PYTHONUTF8: "1"
   script:
     # FIXME: These should use --wrap-mode=nodownload but the Windows CI machines