diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 01ce57e927..535e4c90bd 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ fedora-x86_64:
     EXTRA_MESON_FLAGS: "--buildtype=debug --default-library=both"
   script:
     - .gitlab-ci/show-info-linux.sh
-    - meson subprojects update
+    - meson subprojects download
     - mkdir _install
     - meson --prefix=${CI_PROJECT_DIR}/_install
             ${COMMON_MESON_FLAGS} ${EXTRA_MESON_FLAGS} ${BACKEND_FLAGS} ${FEATURE_FLAGS}
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ release-build:
     EXTRA_MESON_FLAGS: "--buildtype=release"
   script:
     - .gitlab-ci/show-info-linux.sh
-    - meson subprojects update
+    - meson subprojects download
     - meson ${COMMON_MESON_FLAGS} ${EXTRA_MESON_FLAGS} ${BACKEND_FLAGS} ${FEATURE_FLAGS}
             _build
     - ninja -C _build
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ fedora-mingw64:
             # mingw64-graphene (rawhide)
   script:
     - .gitlab-ci/show-info-linux.sh
-    - meson subprojects update
+    - meson subprojects download
     - mkdir _build && cd _build
     - mingw64-meson -Dintrospection=disabled -Dgraphene:introspection=disabled
     - ninja
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ installed-tests:
     G_TEST_ACCESSIBLE: 1
   script:
     - .gitlab-ci/show-info-linux.sh
-    - meson subprojects update
+    - meson subprojects download
     - meson ${COMMON_MESON_FLAGS} ${EXTRA_MESON_FLAGS} ${BACKEND_FLAGS} ${FEATURE_FLAGS}
             _build
     - ninja -C _build