diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 1db0cc49e..cccbb998d 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -262,6 +262,7 @@ windows:
     - set RUST_BACKTRACE=1
     - set RUSTFLAGS=%RUSTFLAGS% -Zorbit=off -D warnings
     - rustup default stable-x86_64-pc-windows-msvc
+    - git submodule init && git submodule update
     - cargo build --release --verbose
     - curl -sL --url "https://github.com/ethcore/win-build/raw/master/SimpleFC.dll" -o nsis\SimpleFC.dll
     - curl -sL --url "https://github.com/ethcore/win-build/raw/master/vc_redist.x64.exe" -o nsis\vc_redist.x64.exe