diff --git a/scripts/sync-kernel.sh b/scripts/sync-kernel.sh
index 9ea1d56..45b4212 100755
--- a/scripts/sync-kernel.sh
+++ b/scripts/sync-kernel.sh
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ git checkout -b ${LIBBPF_SYNC_TAG}
 
 for patch in $(ls -1 ${TMP_DIR}/patches | tail -n +2); do
 	if ! git am -3 --committer-date-is-author-date "${TMP_DIR}/patches/${patch}"; then
-		if ! git apply -3 "${TMP_DIR}/patches/${patch}"; then
+		if ! patch -p1 --merge < "${TMP_DIR}/patches/${patch}"; then
 			read -p "Applying ${TMP_DIR}/patches/${patch} failed, please resolve manually and press <return> to proceed..."
 		fi
 		git am --continue