diff --git a/scripts/checkpatch.pl b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
index 862e8e0e86ae..ada27c44da02 100755
--- a/scripts/checkpatch.pl
+++ b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
@@ -2043,7 +2043,7 @@ sub process {
 # case and default should not have general statements after them
 		if ($line =~ /^.\s*(?:case\s*.*|default\s*):/g &&
 		    $line !~ /\G(?:
-			(?:\s*{)?(?:\s*$;*)(?:\s*\\)?\s*$|
+			(?:\s*$;*)(?:\s*{)?(?:\s*$;*)(?:\s*\\)?\s*$|
 			\s*return\s+
 		    )/xg)
 		{