diff --git a/doPatch.go b/doPatch.go
index ee74dca..d80723c 100644
--- a/doPatch.go
+++ b/doPatch.go
@@ -28,6 +28,11 @@ func doPatchInit() {
 }
 
 func doPatch() error {
+	if me.forge.Config.Mode != forgepb.ForgeMode_NORMAL {
+		log.Info("forge requres a 'normal' state to work with patches")
+		return log.Errorf("not in 'normal' forge state")
+	}
+
 	if argv.Patch.Submit != nil {
 		_, err := me.forge.SubmitDevelPatchSet(argv.Patch.Submit.Match)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -143,8 +148,9 @@ func dumpDirtyRepos() {
 	found := findReposWithPatches()
 	if found.Len() == 0 {
 		log.Info("you currently have no repos with patches")
+	} else {
+		me.forge.PrintHumanTable(found)
 	}
-	me.forge.PrintHumanTable(found)
 }
 
 // returns bad if patches can not be applied