diff --git a/tools/scripts/checkpatch.pl b/tools/scripts/checkpatch.pl
index 92befc6f8..b977d361f 100755
--- a/tools/scripts/checkpatch.pl
+++ b/tools/scripts/checkpatch.pl
@@ -2224,7 +2224,7 @@ sub process {
 
 # function brace can't be on same line, except for #defines of do while,
 # or if closed on same line
-		if (($line=~/$Type\s*$Ident\(.*\).*\s{/) and
+		if (($line=~/$Type\s*$Ident\(.*\).*\s\{/) and
 		    !($line=~/\#\s*define.*do\s\{/) and !($line=~/}/)) {
 			ERROR("OPEN_BRACE",
 			      "open brace '{' following function declarations go on the next line\n" . $herecurr);