diff --git a/include/quilt.mk b/include/quilt.mk
index 140d390528..a58390f6c5 100644
--- a/include/quilt.mk
+++ b/include/quilt.mk
@@ -106,13 +106,14 @@ define Kernel/Patch/Default
 endef
 
 define Quilt/RefreshDir
-	mkdir -p $(2)
-	-rm -f $(2)/* 2>/dev/null >/dev/null
-	@( \
+	-rm -rf $(2) 2>/dev/null >/dev/null
+	[ -f $(1)/.quilt_no_patch ] || mkdir -p $(2)
+	@[ -f $(1)/.quilt_no_patch ] || { \
 		for patch in $$$$($(if $(3),grep "^$(3)",cat) $(1)/patches/series | awk '{print $$$$1}'); do \
 			$(CP) -v "$(1)/patches/$$$$patch" $(2); \
 		done; \
-	)
+	}
+	@-rm -f $(1)/.quilt_no_patch 2>/dev/null >/dev/null;
 endef
 
 define Quilt/Refresh/Host
@@ -156,7 +157,7 @@ define Quilt/Template
 	}
 	@[ -f "$(1)/patches/series" ] || { \
 		echo "The source directory contains no quilt patches."; \
-		false; \
+		touch $(1)/patches/series $(1)/.quilt_no_patch; \
 	}
 	@[ -n "$$$$(ls $(1)/patches/series)" -o \
 	   "$$$$(cat $(1)/patches/series | $(MKHASH) md5)" = "$$(sort $(1)/patches/series | $(MKHASH) md5)" ] || { \
@@ -165,10 +166,12 @@ define Quilt/Template
 	}
 
   $(3)refresh: $(3)quilt-check
-	@cd "$(1)"; $(QUILT_CMD) pop -a -f >/dev/null 2>/dev/null
-	@cd "$(1)"; while $(QUILT_CMD) next 2>/dev/null >/dev/null && $(QUILT_CMD) push; do \
-		QUILT_DIFF_OPTS="-p" $(QUILT_CMD) refresh -p ab --no-index --no-timestamps; \
-	done; ! $(QUILT_CMD) next 2>/dev/null >/dev/null
+	@[ -f $(1)/.quilt_no_patch ] || { \
+		cd "$(1)"; $(QUILT_CMD) pop -a -f >/dev/null 2>/dev/null; \
+		while $(QUILT_CMD) next 2>/dev/null >/dev/null && $(QUILT_CMD) push; do \
+			QUILT_DIFF_OPTS="-p" $(QUILT_CMD) refresh -p ab --no-index --no-timestamps; \
+		done; ! $(QUILT_CMD) next 2>/dev/null >/dev/null; \
+	}
 	$(Quilt/Refresh/$(4))
 	
   $(3)update: $(3)quilt-check