diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index df5c550aca3cee2dcc0fdc483b65f66a9628a7c7..00cb60995ce031ddeee5265cb49b2811876486e0 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ stages:
   - build
 
 before_script:
-  - echo email.key $PEPPER >> local.properties
+  - echo email.key=$PEPPER >> local.properties
   - export GRADLE_USER_HOME=$(pwd)/.gradle
   - chmod +x ./gradlew
 
@@ -16,9 +16,8 @@ cache:
 
 build:
   stage: build
-  before_script:
-    - git submodule sync
-    - git submodule update --init --recursive --force
+  variables:
+    GIT_SUBMODULE_STRATEGY: recursive
   script:
     - ./gradlew build -x test
   artifacts: