diff --git a/.appveyor.yml b/.appveyor.yml
index 0c12b8a..4eaf685 100644
--- a/.appveyor.yml
+++ b/.appveyor.yml
@@ -15,14 +15,6 @@
 cache:
   - C:\Users\appveyor\.tools -> appveyor\do.py
 
-#---------------------------------#
-#       additional packages       #
-#---------------------------------#
-
-install:
-# for the sequencer
-  - cinst re2c
-
 #---------------------------------#
 #       repository cloning        #
 #---------------------------------#
@@ -31,6 +23,8 @@ install:
 init:
   # Set autocrlf to make batch files work
   - git config --global core.autocrlf true
+  # print the connection info for RDP connections (see 'debugging' below)
+  - ps: iex ((new-object net.webclient).DownloadString('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/appveyor/ci/master/scripts/enable-rdp.ps1'))
 
 # Set clone depth (do not fetch complete history)
 clone_depth: 50
@@ -44,6 +38,16 @@ skip_commits:
     - '**/*.md'
     - '.travis.yml'
 
+#---------------------------------#
+#       additional packages       #
+#---------------------------------#
+
+install:
+# fetch submodules (like ci-scripts)
+  - cmd: git submodule update --init --recursive
+# for the sequencer
+  - cinst re2c
+
 #---------------------------------#
 #   build matrix configuration    #
 #---------------------------------#
@@ -144,7 +148,6 @@ test_script:
 ## so you may want to adjust the build matrix above to just build the one of interest
 
 #on_failure:
-#  - ps: iex ((new-object net.webclient).DownloadString('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/appveyor/ci/master/scripts/enable-rdp.ps1'))
 #  - ps: $blockRdp = $true; iex ((new-object net.webclient).DownloadString('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/appveyor/ci/master/scripts/enable-rdp.ps1'))
 
 
diff --git a/appveyor/.appveyor.yml.example-full b/appveyor/.appveyor.yml.example-full
index d46500c..8892f30 100644
--- a/appveyor/.appveyor.yml.example-full
+++ b/appveyor/.appveyor.yml.example-full
@@ -12,14 +12,6 @@
 cache:
   - C:\Users\appveyor\.tools
 
-#---------------------------------#
-#       additional packages       #
-#---------------------------------#
-
-install:
-# for the sequencer
-  - cinst re2c
-
 #---------------------------------#
 #       repository cloning        #
 #---------------------------------#
@@ -43,6 +35,16 @@ skip_commits:
     - '**/*.md'
     - '.travis.yml'
 
+#---------------------------------#
+#       additional packages       #
+#---------------------------------#
+
+install:
+# fetch submodules (like ci-scripts)
+  - cmd: git submodule update --init --recursive
+# for the sequencer
+  - cinst re2c
+
 #---------------------------------#
 #   build matrix configuration    #
 #---------------------------------#
@@ -113,11 +115,8 @@ matrix:
 #     building & testing          #
 #---------------------------------#
 
-install:
-  - cmd: git submodule update --init --recursive
-  - cmd: python .ci/appveyor/do.py prepare
-
 build_script:
+  - cmd: python .ci/appveyor/do.py prepare
   - cmd: python .ci/appveyor/do.py build
 
 test_script:
diff --git a/appveyor/.appveyor.yml.example-mini b/appveyor/.appveyor.yml.example-mini
index edbb65a..bec8658 100644
--- a/appveyor/.appveyor.yml.example-mini
+++ b/appveyor/.appveyor.yml.example-mini
@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@ skip_commits:
     - '**/*.md'
     - '.travis.yml'
 
+install:
+  - cmd: git submodule update --init --recursive
+
 image: Visual Studio 2019
 
 # Build Configurations: dll/static, regular/debug
@@ -54,11 +57,8 @@ matrix:
   - platform: x64
     CMP: vs2008
 
-install:
-  - cmd: git submodule update --init --recursive
-  - cmd: python .ci/appveyor/do.py prepare
-
 build_script:
+  - cmd: python .ci/appveyor/do.py prepare
   - cmd: python .ci/appveyor/do.py build
 
 test_script: