diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index b6b1521b5287b..872b97493c1e6 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
     "versions": "node ./scripts/commands.js versions",
     "upload": "node ./scripts/commands.js upload",
     "update_patches": "node ./scripts/commands.js update_patches",
-    "apply_patches": "node ./scripts/sync.js --run_hooks",
+    "apply_patches": "node ./scripts/sync.js --apply_patches",
     "start": "node ./scripts/commands.js start",
     "network-audit": "node ./scripts/commands.js start --enable_brave_update --network_log --user_data_dir_name=brave-network-test",
     "push_l10n": "node ./scripts/commands.js push_l10n",
diff --git a/scripts/sync.js b/scripts/sync.js
index 32ec533bbc1da..a6f651890c60b 100644
--- a/scripts/sync.js
+++ b/scripts/sync.js
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ program
   .option('--run_sync', 'run gclient sync')
   .option('--submodule_sync', 'run submodule sync')
   .option('--init', 'initialize all dependencies')
+  .option('--apply_patches', 'apply all patches')
   .option('--all', 'update all projects')
 projectNames.forEach((name) => {
   let project = config.projects[name]
@@ -49,6 +50,11 @@ if (updatedVersion || program.init || program.run_sync) {
   util.gclientSync()
 }
 
+if (updatedVersion || program.init || program.run_sync || program.apply_patches) {
+  const core_dir = config.projects['brave-core'].dir
+  util.run('python', [path.join(core_dir, 'script', 'apply-patches.py')])
+}
+
 if (updatedVersion || program.init || program.run_hooks) {
   util.gclientRunhooks()
 }