diff --git a/.circleci/config.yml b/.circleci/config.yml
index ce20eb776..a69675b62 100644
--- a/.circleci/config.yml
+++ b/.circleci/config.yml
@@ -54,6 +54,8 @@ jobs:
     executor: go1_12
     steps:
       - checkout
+      - run: git submodule sync
+      - run: git submodule update --init
       - gomod
       - run: go test -v -race ./...
 
@@ -62,6 +64,8 @@ jobs:
     executor: go1_13
     steps:
       - checkout
+      - run: git submodule sync
+      - run: git submodule update --init
       - gomod
       - run: go test -v -race ./... -coverprofile=coverage.txt -covermode=atomic
       - codecov/upload:
diff --git a/pkg/vm/json_test.go b/pkg/vm/json_test.go
index bafbc2f41..2cc00de2b 100644
--- a/pkg/vm/json_test.go
+++ b/pkg/vm/json_test.go
@@ -89,20 +89,23 @@ const (
 	typeString    vmUTStackItemType = "String"
 	typeStruct    vmUTStackItemType = "Struct"
 
-	testsDir = "neo-vm/tests/neo-vm.Tests/Tests/"
+	testsDir = "testdata/neo-vm/tests/neo-vm.Tests/Tests/"
 )
 
 func TestUT(t *testing.T) {
+	testsRan := false
 	err := filepath.Walk(testsDir, func(path string, info os.FileInfo, err error) error {
 		if !strings.HasSuffix(path, ".json") {
 			return nil
 		}
 
 		testFile(t, path)
+		testsRan = true
 		return nil
 	})
 
 	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, true, testsRan, "neo-vm tests should be available (check submodules)")
 }
 
 func testFile(t *testing.T, filename string) {