diff --git a/builtin/apply.c b/builtin/apply.c
index e8953404d2..a51a1b0872 100644
--- a/builtin/apply.c
+++ b/builtin/apply.c
@@ -1606,6 +1606,9 @@ static int parse_fragment(const char *line, unsigned long size,
 			if (!deleted && !added)
 				leading++;
 			trailing++;
+			if (!apply_in_reverse &&
+			    ws_error_action == correct_ws_error)
+				check_whitespace(line, len, patch->ws_rule);
 			break;
 		case '-':
 			if (apply_in_reverse &&