diff --git a/checkout.py b/checkout.py
index 5dbb375ca..8d5cccecd 100644
--- a/checkout.py
+++ b/checkout.py
@@ -676,7 +676,7 @@ class GitCheckout(CheckoutBase):
           else:
             # No need to do anything special with p.is_new or if not
             # p.diff_hunks. git apply manages all that already.
-            cmd = ['apply', '--index', '-p%s' % p.patchlevel]
+            cmd = ['apply', '--index', '-3', '-p%s' % p.patchlevel]
             if verbose:
               cmd.append('--verbose')
             stdout.append(self._check_output_git(cmd, stdin=p.get(True)))
diff --git a/tests/checkout_test.py b/tests/checkout_test.py
index d07f15ac7..e18db0a7c 100755
--- a/tests/checkout_test.py
+++ b/tests/checkout_test.py
@@ -457,8 +457,8 @@ class GitCheckout(GitBaseTest):
   def testException(self):
     self._check_exception(
         self._get_co(None),
-        'While running git apply --index -p1;\n  fatal: corrupt patch at line '
-        '12\n')
+        'While running git apply --index -3 -p1;\n  fatal: corrupt patch at '
+        'line 12\n')
 
   def testProcess(self):
     self._test_process(self._get_co)