diff --git a/.github/workflows/main.yml b/.github/workflows/main.yml
index a8e5cc9..cb2a817 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/main.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/main.yml
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v3
         with:
-          submodules: true
+          submodules: recursive
       - uses: actions-rs/toolchain@v1
         with:
           profile: minimal
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v3
         with:
-          submodules: true
+          submodules: recursive
       - uses: actions/setup-go@v3 # we need go to build go-waku
         with:
           go-version: '1.19'
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v3
         with:
-          submodules: true
+          submodules: recursive
       - uses: actions/setup-go@v3 # we need go to build go-waku
         with:
           go-version: '1.19'