diff --git a/scripts/pre-push-hook.sh b/scripts/pre-push-hook.sh
index 78dafecb..e9b29f92 100644
--- a/scripts/pre-push-hook.sh
+++ b/scripts/pre-push-hook.sh
@@ -4,6 +4,11 @@ set -e
 set -u
 set -o pipefail
 
+ZERO=$(git hash-object --stdin </dev/null | tr '[0-9a-f]' '0')
 GRADLE_EXEC="${GRADLE_EXEC:-./gradlew}"
 
-"${GRADLE_EXEC}" spotlessCheck apiCheck
+while read local_ref local_oid remote_ref remote_oid; do
+  if [ "${local_oid}" != "${ZERO}" ]; then
+    "${GRADLE_EXEC}" spotlessCheck apiCheck
+  fi
+done