diff --git a/scripts/checkpatch.pl b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
index d80b55a..67b0c9f 100755
--- a/scripts/checkpatch.pl
+++ b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
@@ -1793,7 +1793,7 @@
 					$c = 'C' if ($elements[$n + 2] =~ /^$;/);
 					$c = 'B' if ($elements[$n + 2] =~ /^(\)|\]|;)/);
 					$c = 'O' if ($elements[$n + 2] eq '');
-					$c = 'E' if ($elements[$n + 2] =~ /\s*\\$/);
+					$c = 'E' if ($elements[$n + 2] =~ /^\s*\\$/);
 				} else {
 					$c = 'E';
 				}