diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 1a676acf01a2c85f9761471a31003a9c7ec27734..b815f5b70c8794d71fce5b0b5b0dbd121bae2c90 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -7,9 +7,6 @@ include:
   - project: shore/ci-templates
     file: templates/gitlab-release.yml
 
-variables:
-  GIT_SUBMODULE_STRATEGY: recursive
-
 build-wheel:
   extends: .python3-build
   script: