diff --git a/findutils.spec b/findutils.spec
index 71b4dcf..6b2a8f0 100644
--- a/findutils.spec
+++ b/findutils.spec
@@ -57,9 +57,13 @@ You should install findutils because it includes tools that are very
 useful for finding things on your system.
 
 %prep
-%autosetup -S git
+%autosetup -N -S git
 
-# drop ignored files and mark them as ignored
+# drop the source code of locate
+git rm -q -r locate
+git commit -q -m "drop the source code of locate"
+
+# remove ignored files from git and mark them as ignored
 tee -a .gitignore << EOF
 *~
 Makefile.in
@@ -73,10 +77,10 @@ Makefile.in
 EOF
 git rm -q -r --cached .
 git add --all .
-git commit -m "drop ignored files"
+git commit -m "remove ignored files from git"
 
-git rm -q -r locate
-git commit -q -m "drop the source code of locate"
+# apply all patches
+%autopatch -S git
 
 # needed because of findutils-4.5.15-no-locate.patch
 autoreconf -fiv