diff --git a/.gitmodules b/.gitmodules
index 596c693bd..1aa6689fd 100644
--- a/.gitmodules
+++ b/.gitmodules
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@
 	url = https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/cairo/cairo.git
 	shallow = true
 	depth = 1
+	branch = 1.17.6
 [submodule "project/lib/pixman"]
 	path = project/lib/pixman
 	url = https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/pixman/pixman.git