diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index a3fb9a6d832f4387b43747d5db8722ae385e2207..887b17da443a4de5fc3a57cf7fe3fc485fde54e8 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ build-job-Z2:       # This job runs in the build stage, which runs first.
   stage: build
   script:
     # move to fpga_imp directory and run the fpga build script for pynq z2
+    - git submodule init
     - git pull --recurse-submodules
     - source set_env.sh
     - cd ./nanosoc_tech/fpga/
@@ -62,6 +63,7 @@ build-job-ZCU104:       # This job runs in the build stage, which runs first.
   stage: build
   script:
    # move to fpga_imp directory and run the fpga build script for pynq z2 
+    - git submodule init
     - git pull --recurse-submodules
     - source set_env.sh
     - cd ./nanosoc_tech/fpga