diff --git a/0001-Handle-git-being-entirely-absent.patch b/0001-Handle-git-being-entirely-absent.patch
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..475d84f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/0001-Handle-git-being-entirely-absent.patch
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+From 5c0bb9186fe2d65901744b00af24c8c50b3e1d29 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
+From: Robert Collins <rbtcollins@hp.com>
+Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2015 16:22:26 +1200
+Subject: [PATCH] Handle git being entirely absent
+
+When we try to find the git directory, if git is not present, treat
+that the same as an error from git itself. Sadly tests for this are
+nearly impossible to meaningfully write, since we always have git
+installed. I can do a mock based test if folk want one.
+
+Change-Id: If6160d1fb3def8133bdd0b66105e60ef93f80f82
+Closes-Bug: #1481468
+---
+ pbr/git.py | 9 ++++++++-
+ 1 file changed, 8 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)
+
+diff --git a/pbr/git.py b/pbr/git.py
+index b4ae300..60acd3c 100644
+--- a/pbr/git.py
++++ b/pbr/git.py
+@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ from __future__ import unicode_literals
+ 
+ import distutils.errors
+ from distutils import log
++import errno
+ import io
+ import os
+ import re
+@@ -64,7 +65,13 @@ def _run_git_command(cmd, git_dir, **kwargs):
+ 
+ 
+ def _get_git_directory():
+-    return _run_shell_command(['git', 'rev-parse', '--git-dir'])
++    try:
++        return _run_shell_command(['git', 'rev-parse', '--git-dir'])
++    except OSError as e:
++        if e.errno == errno.ENOENT:
++            # git not installed.
++            return ''
++        raise
+ 
+ 
+ def _git_is_installed():
+-- 
+2.4.6
+
diff --git a/python-pbr.changes b/python-pbr.changes
index 8389b11..11bfbd1 100644
--- a/python-pbr.changes
+++ b/python-pbr.changes
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+-------------------------------------------------------------------
+Wed Aug 12 09:32:35 UTC 2015 - dmueller@suse.com
+
+- add 0001-Handle-git-being-entirely-absent.patch 
+
 -------------------------------------------------------------------
 Tue Aug 11 07:34:34 UTC 2015 - seife+obs@b1-systems.com
 
diff --git a/python-pbr.spec b/python-pbr.spec
index 370344a..259213c 100644
--- a/python-pbr.spec
+++ b/python-pbr.spec
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ Source1:        python-pbr-rpmlintrc
 # NOTE(toabctl): this is currently in review: https://review.openstack.org/#/c/193462/
 # needed to be abe to use pbr with newer Sphinx versions
 Patch0:         0001-Remove-sphinx_config.init_values-manual-call.patch
+Patch1:         0001-Handle-git-being-entirely-absent.patch
 BuildRequires:  fdupes
 BuildRequires:  git
 BuildRequires:  python-devel
@@ -71,6 +72,7 @@ information.
 %prep
 %setup -q -n pbr-%{version}
 %patch0 -p1
+%patch1 -p1
 # Get rid of ugly build-time deps that require network:
 sed -i "s/, 'sphinx\.ext\.intersphinx'//" doc/source/conf.py