diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 39a44e54815c294ca053ba73745d0a6a878004aa..255f2eea69e97178bda7e8e7cc641157de0384b4 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -67,9 +67,7 @@ build_and_deploy:
 #    - main
   stage: deploy_java
   script:
-    - git submodule init
-    - git submodule update --remote --force
-    - git submodule foreach git pull
+    - git submodule update --recursive --init
     # REMOVE SKIPTESTS AS SOON AS TESTS ARE WORKING...!!
     - mvn $MAVEN_OPTS $MAVEN_CLI_OPTS $MAVEN_DEPLOY_OPTS -U clean verify -Ptextgrid.deb -DskipTests=true
   artifacts: