diff --git a/TarSCM/tasks.py b/TarSCM/tasks.py
index 65c8838d..db768206 100644
--- a/TarSCM/tasks.py
+++ b/TarSCM/tasks.py
@@ -292,7 +292,15 @@ def _process_changes(self, args, ver, changesversion, detected_changes):
             changesversion = self.get_version()
 
         logging.debug("Searching for '*.changes' in %s", os.getcwd())
-        for filename in glob.glob('*.changes'):
+        changesfiles = glob.glob('*.changes')
+        if not changesfiles:
+            if args.filename:
+                basename = args.filename
+            else:
+                basename = os.path.basename(self.scm_object.clone_dir)
+            changesfiles = [basename + ".changes"]
+            open(changesfiles[0], 'a').close()
+        for filename in changesfiles:
             new_changes_file = os.path.join(args.outdir, filename)
             shutil.copy(filename, new_changes_file)
             self.changes.write_changes(new_changes_file,