diff --git a/.npmignore b/.npmignore
index 125c4b03a14d..b2a1ff1bdbfc 100644
--- a/.npmignore
+++ b/.npmignore
@@ -57,10 +57,14 @@ workshops/
 !/deps/test/openblas*
 
 # Only top-level directories:
-/etc/
+/etc/*
+!/etc/patches/
 /docs/*
 !/docs/types/*
-/tools/
+/tools/*
+!/tools/scripts/
+/tools/scripts/*
+!/tools/scripts/apply_patches
 
 # Compiled source #
 ###################
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index d6672b72b383..2408a6f7739d 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
     "clean": "make clean",
     "check-deps": "make check-deps",
     "check-licenses": "make check-licenses",
-    "postinstall": "tools/scripts/apply_patches"
+    "postinstall": "bash tools/scripts/apply_patches || exit 0"
   },
   "homepage": "https://github.com/stdlib-js/stdlib",
   "repository": {