diff --git a/.ci-pipelines/build-matrix.yml b/.ci-pipelines/build-matrix.yml
index b4e6104..9015c5e 100644
--- a/.ci-pipelines/build-matrix.yml
+++ b/.ci-pipelines/build-matrix.yml
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ container: $[ variables['containerImage'] ]
 # Try building GEOS-Chem (this is run for each "matrix" entry above)
 steps:
 - checkout: self
-  submodules: true
+  submodules: recursive
 - script: |
     . /opt/spack/share/spack/setup-env.sh
     export CC=gcc
diff --git a/.ci-pipelines/quick-build.yml b/.ci-pipelines/quick-build.yml
index 8adc7c3..cb62f66 100644
--- a/.ci-pipelines/quick-build.yml
+++ b/.ci-pipelines/quick-build.yml
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ container: geoschem/buildmatrix:netcdf-ubuntu
 # Try building GEOS-Chem
 steps:
 - checkout: self
-  submodules: true
+  submodules: recursive
 - script: |
     . /opt/spack/share/spack/setup-env.sh
     export CC=gcc
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index d771b4a..d2905aa 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@ adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
 ### Added
 - Added code to `src/CMakeLists.txt` to build & install the KPP standalone executable when `fullchem` or `custom` mechanisms are selected
 
+### Changed
+- Changed `submodules: true` to `submodules: recursive` in `.ci-pipelines/*.yml` files, which will fetch all levels of submodules in Azure CI tests.
+
 ## [14.5.0] - 2024-11-08
 ### Changed
 - Updated GEOS-Chem to 14.5.0