diff --git a/scripts/fetch b/scripts/fetch
index 83d2301..93c7a06 100755
--- a/scripts/fetch
+++ b/scripts/fetch
@@ -24,12 +24,14 @@ mkdir -p "$build_dir"
 	|| git clone "$buildroot_repo" "$buildroot_dir"
 (
 	cd $buildroot_dir;
-	git checkout "$buildroot_ref"
-	git reset --hard
-	for patch in "${buildroot_external}"/patches/*; do
-		echo "Applying patch: ${patch}";
-		patch -p1 --no-backup-if-mismatch < "${patch}";
-	done;
+	git checkout "$buildroot_ref";
+	git reset --hard;
+	if [ "$(ls -A "${buildroot_external}/patches")" ]; then
+		for patch in "${buildroot_external}"/patches/*; do
+			echo "Applying patch: ${patch}";
+			patch -p1 --no-backup-if-mismatch < "${patch}";
+		done;
+	fi
 	make "airgap_${target}_defconfig";
 	make source;
 )
@@ -38,12 +40,14 @@ mkdir -p "$build_dir"
 	|| git clone "$heads_repo" "$heads_dir"
 (
 	cd "$heads_dir";
-	git checkout "$heads_ref"
-	git reset --hard
-	for patch in "${heads_external}"/patches/*; do
-		echo "Applying patch: ${patch}"
-		patch -p1 --no-backup-if-mismatch < "${patch}"
-	done
+	git checkout "$heads_ref";
+	git reset --hard;
+	if [ "$(ls -A "${heads_external}/patches")" ]; then
+		for patch in "${heads_external}"/patches/*; do
+			echo "Applying patch: ${patch}";
+			patch -p1 --no-backup-if-mismatch < "${patch}";
+		done;
+	fi
 	rsync -Pav "${heads_external}/boards/" "${heads_dir}/boards/"
 	[[ "$devices" =~ "librem" ]] \
 		&& (cd "$heads_dir/blobs/librem_kbl" && ./get_blobs.sh)