diff --git a/examples/debconf/Makefile b/examples/debconf/Makefile
index 92cf4af8e..e6cde92a4 100644
--- a/examples/debconf/Makefile
+++ b/examples/debconf/Makefile
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ all: \
 dc%:
 	git clone --filter=blob:none --sparse http://salsa.debian.org/debconf-team/public/data/$@
 	git -C $@ sparse-checkout set --no-cone budget '!budget/invoices'
-	git -C $@ apply ../patches/$@.patch
+	git -C $@ apply --allow-empty ../patches/$@.patch
 
 # make check-ledger, check-hledger - check readability of all years
 check-%:
diff --git a/examples/debconf/README.md b/examples/debconf/README.md
index 6f81aea2f..e61504b08 100644
--- a/examples/debconf/README.md
+++ b/examples/debconf/README.md
@@ -7,5 +7,6 @@ Each year has its own repo, and the repos are big.
 To clone just the accounting data for a few recent years: `make`
 To clone all years, starting 2017: `make all`
 Some patches for hledger readability will be applied. (These might need updating from time to time.)
-To check h/ledger readability: `make check-hledger`
-To check ledger readability: `make check-ledger`
+
+To check hledger readability: `make check-hledger`
+To check ledger  readability: `make check-ledger`