diff --git a/tools/patch_updater.py b/tools/patch_updater.py
index b636c3d91..b7e64ba89 100644
--- a/tools/patch_updater.py
+++ b/tools/patch_updater.py
@@ -166,6 +166,14 @@ for patch in patches:
     msg('Reading patch file %s' % patch_file)
     if 'path' in patch:
       patch_root_abs = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(src_dir, patch['path']))
+      if not os.path.isdir(patch_root_abs):
+        line = 'Target directory does not exist: %s' % patch_root_abs
+        msg(line)
+        if options.resave:
+          # Report as a fatal error for manual resave only, as the missing
+          # directory may be platform-specific.
+          failed_patches[patch['name']] = [line]
+        continue
     else:
       patch_root_abs = src_dir
 
diff --git a/tools/patcher.py b/tools/patcher.py
index 4d7ed34d8..023e91d4b 100644
--- a/tools/patcher.py
+++ b/tools/patcher.py
@@ -30,7 +30,8 @@ def write_note(type, note):
 
 def apply_patch_file(patch_file, patch_dir):
   ''' Apply a specific patch file in optional patch directory. '''
-  patch_path = os.path.join(cef_patch_dir, 'patches', patch_file + '.patch')
+  patch_name = patch_file + '.patch'
+  patch_path = os.path.join(cef_patch_dir, 'patches', patch_name)
 
   if patch_dir is None or len(patch_dir) == 0:
     patch_dir = src_dir
@@ -39,6 +40,10 @@ def apply_patch_file(patch_file, patch_dir):
       # Apply patch relative to the Chromium 'src' directory.
       patch_dir = os.path.join(src_dir, patch_dir)
     patch_dir = os.path.abspath(patch_dir)
+    if not os.path.isdir(patch_dir):
+      sys.stdout.write('\nApply %s in %s\n' % (patch_name, patch_dir))
+      sys.stdout.write('... target directory does not exist (skipping).\n')
+      return 'skip'
 
   result = git_apply_patch_file(patch_path, patch_dir)
   if result == 'fail':