diff --git a/launch/core/platforms/linux.py b/launch/core/platforms/linux.py
index bd87786..dbca2c7 100644
--- a/launch/core/platforms/linux.py
+++ b/launch/core/platforms/linux.py
@@ -209,7 +209,11 @@ def apply_patch(self, patch: str, verbose: bool = False) -> bool:
             f.write(patch)
         containerpath =  os.path.join(self.mnt_container, filename)
         
-        cmd = f"""git apply --reject  --whitespace=nowarn  {containerpath} """
+        # Native Windows images may have whitespace-only source drift in
+        # generated files. Tolerate that drift only for Windows; Linux keeps
+        # strict patch matching so unrelated mismatches remain visible.
+        apply_flags = "--ignore-space-change --ignore-whitespace " if self.platform == "windows" else ""
+        cmd = f"git apply --reject {apply_flags}--whitespace=nowarn {containerpath}"
         res = self.send_command(cmd)
         self.send_command(f"rm {containerpath}")
         if int(res.metadata.exit_code) == 0:
diff --git a/launch/core/platforms/windows.py b/launch/core/platforms/windows.py
index 28c146e..b544665 100644
--- a/launch/core/platforms/windows.py
+++ b/launch/core/platforms/windows.py
@@ -121,6 +121,39 @@ def send_command(self, command: str, timeout: int|None = None) -> CommandResult:
 
         return CommandResult(output=output, metadata=fallback_metadata)
 
+    def apply_patch(self, patch: str, verbose: bool = False) -> bool:
+        """Apply patches with Windows-only whitespace drift tolerance.
+
+        WindowsRuntime overrides the inherited Linux implementation, so the
+        platform-specific flags must be present here as well as in the base
+        runtime. Linux remains strict through LinuxRuntime.apply_patch.
+        """
+        output_temp = "\n\n<<<<<<PATCH FAILED TO APPLY CLEANLY\n{out}\n>>>>>>\n\n"
+        filename = f"{uuid.uuid4()}.diff"
+        hostpath = os.path.join(self.mnt_host, filename)
+        with open(hostpath, "w") as fh:
+            fh.write(patch)
+        containerpath = os.path.join(self.mnt_container, filename)
+        try:
+            cmd = (
+                f"git apply --reject --ignore-space-change --ignore-whitespace "
+                f"--whitespace=nowarn {containerpath}"
+            )
+            res = self.send_command(cmd)
+            self.send_command(f"del /f /q {containerpath}")
+            if int(res.metadata.exit_code) == 0:
+                if verbose:
+                    print(f"{cmd} ---- Patch applied Successfully!", flush=True)
+                return True
+            if verbose:
+                print(output_temp.format(out=res.output), flush=True)
+            return False
+        finally:
+            try:
+                os.remove(hostpath)
+            except OSError:
+                pass
+
     @classmethod
     def _start_container(
         cls,
diff --git a/tests/runtime_test.py b/tests/runtime_test.py
index 809ec3d..1813526 100644
--- a/tests/runtime_test.py
+++ b/tests/runtime_test.py
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@
 
 import os
 import platform as host_platform
+import tempfile
 import warnings
 
 import docker
@@ -84,6 +85,55 @@ def no_command_result(self, command, timeout=None):
     return None
 
 
+class FakePatchMetadata:
+    def __init__(self, exit_code=0):
+        self.exit_code = exit_code
+
+
+class FakePatchResult:
+    def __init__(self, exit_code=0):
+        self.metadata = FakePatchMetadata(exit_code)
+        self.output = ""
+
+
+class PatchProbeRuntime(LinuxRuntime):
+    def __init__(self, platform_name):
+        self.platform = platform_name
+        self.mnt_host = tempfile.mkdtemp()
+        self.mnt_container = r"C:\\mnt_tmp" if platform_name == "windows" else "/mnt_tmp"
+        self.stopped = False
+        self.commands = []
+
+    def send_command(self, command, timeout=None):
+        self.commands.append(command)
+        return FakePatchResult()
+
+
+def test_apply_patch_is_whitespace_tolerant_only_on_windows():
+    patch = "diff --git a/a b/a\\r\\n--- a/a\\r\\n+++ b/a\\r\\n"
+
+    class WindowsPatchProbeRuntime(WindowsRuntime):
+        def __init__(self):
+            self.platform = "windows"
+            self.mnt_host = tempfile.mkdtemp()
+            self.mnt_container = r"C:\\mnt_tmp"
+            self.stopped = False
+            self.commands = []
+
+        def send_command(self, command, timeout=None):
+            self.commands.append(command)
+            return FakePatchResult()
+
+    windows_runtime = WindowsPatchProbeRuntime()
+    assert windows_runtime.apply_patch(patch) is True
+    assert "--ignore-space-change --ignore-whitespace" in windows_runtime.commands[0]
+
+    linux_runtime = PatchProbeRuntime("linux")
+    assert linux_runtime.apply_patch(patch) is True
+    assert "--ignore-space-change" not in linux_runtime.commands[0]
+    assert "--ignore-whitespace" not in linux_runtime.commands[0]
+
+
 @pytest.fixture
 def patch_runtime_constructor_io(monkeypatch):
     monkeypatch.setattr(LinuxRuntime, "_start_output_thread", lambda self: None)