diff --git a/README.pre.md b/README.pre.md
index 3339421f8d4e6..e69de29bb2d1d 100644
--- a/README.pre.md
+++ b/README.pre.md
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-> **This is the pre-release edition of GitLens for early feedback, and testing. It works best with [VS Code Insiders](https://code.visualstudio.com/insiders).**
diff --git a/scripts/applyInsidersPatch.js b/scripts/applyInsidersPatch.js
index 6c277c6557a2d..1e034fd74cf9f 100644
--- a/scripts/applyInsidersPatch.js
+++ b/scripts/applyInsidersPatch.js
@@ -3,8 +3,10 @@ const fs = require('fs');
 
 // Patch README
 const insert = fs.readFileSync('./README.insiders.md', { encoding: 'utf8' });
-const data = fs.readFileSync('./README.md', { encoding: 'utf8' });
-fs.writeFileSync('./README.md', `${insert}\n${data}`);
+if (insert.trim().length !== 0) {
+	const data = fs.readFileSync('./README.md', { encoding: 'utf8' });
+	fs.writeFileSync('./README.md', `${insert}\n${data}`);
+}
 
 // Patch package.json
 const date = new Date(new Date().toLocaleString('en-US', { timeZone: 'America/New_York' }));
diff --git a/scripts/applyPreReleasePatch.js b/scripts/applyPreReleasePatch.js
index c3543639a3674..f8de9cdee6877 100644
--- a/scripts/applyPreReleasePatch.js
+++ b/scripts/applyPreReleasePatch.js
@@ -3,8 +3,10 @@ const fs = require('fs');
 
 // Patch README
 const insert = fs.readFileSync('./README.pre.md', { encoding: 'utf8' });
-const data = fs.readFileSync('./README.md', { encoding: 'utf8' });
-fs.writeFileSync('./README.md', `${insert}\n${data}`);
+if (insert.trim().length !== 0) {
+	const data = fs.readFileSync('./README.md', { encoding: 'utf8' });
+	fs.writeFileSync('./README.md', `${insert}\n${data}`);
+}
 
 // Patch package.json
 const date = new Date(new Date().toLocaleString('en-US', { timeZone: 'America/New_York' }));