Check whether quilt generates patches properly so that GNU patch recognizes file creates and deletions. $ rm -rf d $ mkdir -p d/patches $ cd d $ echo delete > delete $ quilt new test.diff > Patch %{P}test.diff is now on top $ quilt add create > File create added to patch %{P}test.diff $ echo create > create $ quilt refresh > Refreshed patch %{P}test.diff $ quilt add delete > File delete added to patch %{P}test.diff $ rm -f delete $ quilt refresh > Refreshed patch %{P}test.diff $ quilt pop -q > Removing patch %{P}test.diff > No patches applied $ echo create > create $ rm -f delete $ patch -p1 --dry-run < patches/test.diff > The next patch would create the file create, > which already exists! Assume -R? [n] > Apply anyway? [n] > Skipping patch. > 1 out of 1 hunk ignored -- saving rejects to file create.rej > The next patch would delete the file delete, > which does not exist! Assume -R? [n] > Apply anyway? [n] > Skipping patch. > 1 out of 1 hunk ignored $ cd .. $ rm -rf d