diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.d/check-patch.py b/.gitlab-ci.d/check-patch.py
index 5a14a25b13..0ff30ee077 100755
--- a/.gitlab-ci.d/check-patch.py
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.d/check-patch.py
@@ -33,8 +33,16 @@ ancestor = subprocess.check_output(["git", "merge-base",
 
 ancestor = ancestor.strip()
 
+log = subprocess.check_output(["git", "log", "--format=%H %s",
+                               ancestor + "..."],
+                              universal_newlines=True)
+
 subprocess.check_call(["git", "remote", "rm", "check-patch"])
 
+if log == "":
+    print("\nNo commits since %s, skipping checks\n" % ancestor)
+    sys.exit(0)
+
 errors = False
 
 print("\nChecking all commits since %s...\n" % ancestor)