diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/images.yml b/.gitea/workflows/images.yml
index d72fe110..56dc408d 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/images.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/images.yml
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ jobs:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v7
         with:
           fetch-depth: 0 # tags, for the version string
+          submodules: true # tools/ (weaveworks/build-tools): make all builds tools/runner
 
       - name: Log in to the registry
         run: echo "${{ secrets.REGISTRY_TOKEN }}" | docker login "$REGISTRY" -u reweave-ci --password-stdin