diff --git a/scripts/checkpatch.pl b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
index 59fa00e..8efce59 100755
--- a/scripts/checkpatch.pl
+++ b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
@@ -3121,7 +3121,7 @@
 		}
 
 # check for whitespace before a non-naked semicolon
-		if ($line =~ /^\+.*\S\s+;/) {
+		if ($line =~ /^\+.*\S\s+;\s*$/) {
 			if (WARN("SPACING",
 				 "space prohibited before semicolon\n" . $herecurr) &&
 			    $fix) {