diff --git a/local/scripts/apply-patches.sh b/local/scripts/apply-patches.sh
index f8361f6d50..c2067bd1aa 100755
--- a/local/scripts/apply-patches.sh
+++ b/local/scripts/apply-patches.sh
@@ -109,8 +109,7 @@ for patch_file in "$PATCHES_DIR"/build-system/[0-9]*.patch; do
                 grep -q 'Red Bear OS' README.md 2>/dev/null && already_applied=1
                 ;;
             005-qtbase-toolchain-elf-header.patch)
-                # This patch touches recipes/libs/qtbase; check for our marker
-                grep -q 'REDBEAR' recipes/libs/qtbase/recipe.toml 2>/dev/null && already_applied=1
+                [ -f recipes/wip/qt/qtbase/recipe.toml ] && already_applied=1
                 ;;
         esac
         if [ "$already_applied" -eq 1 ]; then
@@ -145,11 +144,9 @@ for patch_file in "$PATCHES_DIR"/build-system/[0-9]*.patch; do
     fi
 done
 
-# ── 2. Recipe patches (kernel, base) ───────────────────────────────
+# ── 2. Recipe patches ──────────────────────────────────────────────
 echo "==> Linking recipe patches from local/patches/..."
-symlink "../../../local/patches/kernel/redox.patch" "recipes/core/kernel/redox.patch"
-symlink "../../../local/patches/base/redox.patch"   "recipes/core/base/redox.patch"
-symlink "../../../local/patches/base/P2-boot-runtime-fixes.patch" "recipes/core/base/P2-boot-runtime-fixes.patch"
+# kernel, relibc, installer, base use path= (local fork model) — no patch symlinks needed.
 
 # ── 3. Custom recipe symlinks ──────────────────────────────────────
 echo "==> Linking custom recipes from local/recipes/..."
diff --git a/local/scripts/build-redbear.sh b/local/scripts/build-redbear.sh
index 454536e9f9..461ffe157f 100755
--- a/local/scripts/build-redbear.sh
+++ b/local/scripts/build-redbear.sh
@@ -168,13 +168,8 @@ if [ "$APPLY_PATCHES" = "1" ] && [ -z "${REDBEAR_RELEASE:-}" ]; then
         done
     }
 
-    apply_patch_dir "$PROJECT_ROOT/local/patches/kernel"     "$PROJECT_ROOT/recipes/core/kernel/source"     "kernel"
-    apply_patch_dir "$PROJECT_ROOT/local/patches/base"       "$PROJECT_ROOT/recipes/core/base/source"        "base"
-    apply_patch_dir "$PROJECT_ROOT/local/patches/relibc"     "$PROJECT_ROOT/recipes/core/relibc/source"      "relibc"
     apply_patch_dir "$PROJECT_ROOT/local/patches/bootloader" "$PROJECT_ROOT/recipes/core/bootloader/source"  "bootloader"
-    apply_patch_dir "$PROJECT_ROOT/local/patches/installer"  "$PROJECT_ROOT/recipes/core/installer/source"   "installer"
 
-    stash_nested_repo_if_dirty "$PROJECT_ROOT/recipes/core/relibc/source" "relibc"
     echo ""
 elif [ -n "${REDBEAR_RELEASE:-}" ]; then
     echo ">>> Release mode: skipping patch application (patches pre-applied in archived sources)"
diff --git a/local/scripts/verify-overlay-integrity.sh b/local/scripts/verify-overlay-integrity.sh
index 3a7de2a58d..a48b977f8e 100755
--- a/local/scripts/verify-overlay-integrity.sh
+++ b/local/scripts/verify-overlay-integrity.sh
@@ -101,11 +101,8 @@ log "==> Checking patch symlinks (recipes/ → local/patches/)..."
 PATCH_SYMLINK_COUNT=0
 BROKEN_PATCH_SYMLINKS=0
 
+# Components using path= (local fork): kernel, relibc, installer, base — no patch symlinks.
 EXPECTED_PATCH_SYMLINKS=(
-    "recipes/core/kernel/redox.patch"
-    "recipes/core/base/P2-boot-runtime-fixes.patch"
-    "recipes/core/relibc/redox.patch"
-    "recipes/core/installer/redox.patch"
     "recipes/core/bootloader/redox.patch"
     "recipes/core/bootloader/P2-live-preload-guard.patch"
     "recipes/core/bootloader/P3-uefi-live-image-safe-read.patch"