diff --git a/.github/workflows/backend-ci.yml b/.github/workflows/backend-ci.yml
index 36c898c..50ed1b6 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/backend-ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/backend-ci.yml
@@ -11,11 +11,14 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: self-hosted
 
     steps:
-      - name: Clean GitHub Actions workspace manually (force clean)
+      - name: Clean up ghost submodule (prevents checkout failure)
         run: |
-          sudo rm -rf $GITHUB_WORKSPACE/*
+          echo "Removing submodule remnants if they exist..."
+          rm -f .gitmodules
+          rm -rf .git/modules/cse2102-spring25-Team27 || true
+          git config --global --remove-section submodule.cse2102-spring25-Team27 || true
 
-      - name: Checkout repository without submodules
+      - name: Checkout code
         uses: actions/checkout@v2
         with:
           submodules: false
@@ -44,17 +47,8 @@ jobs:
     needs: lint
 
     steps:
-      - name: Clean GitHub Actions workspace manually (force clean)
-        run: |
-          sudo rm -rf $GITHUB_WORKSPACE/*
-
-      - name: Checkout repository without submodules
+      - name: Checkout code
         uses: actions/checkout@v2
-        with:
-          submodules: false
-          clean: true
-          fetch-depth: 0
-          persist-credentials: false
 
       - name: Set up Python
         uses: actions/setup-python@v2
@@ -68,7 +62,7 @@ jobs:
           pip install -r backend/requirements.txt
           pip install pytest-html
 
-      - name: Run pylint with score check
+      - name: Run pylint on Python code
         run: |
           source venv/bin/activate
           pylint backend/main.py backend/db.py backend/init_db.py --exit-zero | tee pylint.log
@@ -110,13 +104,8 @@ jobs:
     needs: lint
 
     steps:
-      - name: Checkout repository without submodules
+      - name: Checkout repository
         uses: actions/checkout@v2
-        with:
-          submodules: false
-          clean: true
-          fetch-depth: 0
-          persist-credentials: false
 
       - name: Set up Node.js
         uses: actions/setup-node@v3