Check whether quilt generates patches properly so that GNU patch recognizes file creates and deletions. $ mkdir patches $ 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 header -r < --- < create | 1 + < delete | 1 - < 2 files changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-) < > Replaced header of patch %{P}test.diff $ quilt patches -v create > = %{P}test.diff $ quilt patches delete > %{P}test.diff $ quilt pop -q > Removing patch %{P}test.diff > No patches applied $ quilt patches create > %{P}test.diff $ quilt patches -v delete > %{P}test.diff $ quilt patches -- /dev/null dev/null null --- $ 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