diff --git a/ci/check_release_commit_messages.sh b/ci/check_release_commit_messages.sh
index 932f3b9bf..7d45acc98 100755
--- a/ci/check_release_commit_messages.sh
+++ b/ci/check_release_commit_messages.sh
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 fail=0
 
+git fetch origin master
+
 # list all commits between HEAD and master
 for commit in $(git rev-list origin/master..)
 do
diff --git a/ci/prebuild.yml b/ci/prebuild.yml
index 5d9d9c974..67512b880 100644
--- a/ci/prebuild.yml
+++ b/ci/prebuild.yml
@@ -37,6 +37,10 @@ gen prebuild:
 
 release commit messages prebuild:
   stage: prebuild
+  before_script: []  # nothing needed
+  variables:
+    # We need to clone the repo properly so we can work with origin/master
+    GIT_STRATEGY: clone
   only:
     - /^release\//
   script: