diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/dev-cmd/audit.rb b/Library/Homebrew/dev-cmd/audit.rb
index 6fbd2b2848..1c7f9d7043 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/dev-cmd/audit.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/dev-cmd/audit.rb
@@ -541,6 +541,7 @@ module Homebrew
         end
 
         next if spec.patches.empty?
+        next unless @new_formula
         new_formula_problem "Formulae should not require patches to build. Patches should be submitted and accepted upstream first."
       end