diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-pypi-kernel.yml b/.github/workflows/release-pypi-kernel.yml
index f046538a6..362088c47 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-pypi-kernel.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-pypi-kernel.yml
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ jobs:
 
     steps:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      with:
+        submodules: 'recursive'
 
     - name: Set up Python ${{ matrix.python-version }}
       uses: actions/setup-python@v5