diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index 4d39400..779725c 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ ubuntu-dev-tools (0.133) UNRELEASED; urgency=low
     (Closes: #642824)
   * Add Depends and Build-Depends for python-distro-info, which has split out
     of distro-info.
+  * syncpackge: Gracefully deal with no available changelog from Debian (PTS
+    changelogs aren't available immediately)
 
   [ Benjamin Drung ]
   * syncpackage: Allow syncing to -proposed with --no-lp.
diff --git a/syncpackage b/syncpackage
index ea0cdfd..6e6bb74 100755
--- a/syncpackage
+++ b/syncpackage
@@ -365,8 +365,9 @@ def copy(src_pkg, release, bugs, simulate=False, force=False):
                       src_pkg.source, ubuntu_series, ubuntu_pocket,
                       src_pkg.version)
 
-    changes = get_debian_changelog(debian_spph, base_version).strip()
+    changes = get_debian_changelog(debian_spph, base_version)
     if changes:
+        changes = changes.strip()
         Logger.normal("New changes:\n%s", changes)
 
     if simulate:
@@ -446,8 +447,9 @@ def close_bugs(bugs, package, version, changes):
     """Close the correct task on all bugs, with changes"""
     ubuntu = Launchpad.distributions['ubuntu']
     message = ("This bug was fixed in the package %s - %s"
-               "\n\n---------------\n%s" % (
-               package, version, changes))
+               % (package, version))
+    if changes:
+        message += "\n\n---------------\n" + changes
     for bug in bugs:
         bug = Launchpad.bugs[bug]
         if bug.duplicate_of is not None: