diff --git a/tools/patman/patman.py b/tools/patman/patman.py
index 23026becd00683ce5eaadbf28f181e09ea89fa6d..a8061a9372181d99db5d48e26bf9ac06f74d8138 100755
--- a/tools/patman/patman.py
+++ b/tools/patman/patman.py
@@ -41,6 +41,9 @@ import test
 
 
 parser = OptionParser()
+parser.add_option('-a', '--no-apply', action='store_false',
+                  dest='apply_patches', default=True,
+                  help="Don't test-apply patches with git am")
 parser.add_option('-H', '--full-help', action='store_true', dest='full_help',
        default=False, help='Display the README file')
 parser.add_option('-c', '--count', dest='count', type='int',
@@ -157,9 +160,10 @@ else:
         ok = checkpatch.CheckPatches(options.verbose, args)
     else:
         ok = True
-    if not gitutil.ApplyPatches(options.verbose, args,
-            options.count + options.start):
-        ok = False
+    if options.apply_patches:
+        if not gitutil.ApplyPatches(options.verbose, args,
+                                    options.count + options.start):
+            ok = False
 
     cc_file = series.MakeCcFile(options.process_tags, cover_fname,
                                 not options.ignore_bad_tags)