diff --git a/vars/checkoutStep.groovy b/vars/checkoutStep.groovy
index e991991..2a74c40 100644
--- a/vars/checkoutStep.groovy
+++ b/vars/checkoutStep.groovy
@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@ String call(Map config = [:]) {
     ]
     Map runConfig = defaults + config
 
-    checkout scm
+    checkout scmGit(extensions: [submodule(recursiveSubmodules: true, reference: ''),
+        cloneOption(noTags: false, reference: '', shallow: false)])
 
     gitTag = sh(
         script: "git describe --tags --always --dirty=${runConfig.dirtyFlag}",