diff --git a/scripts/checkpatch.pl b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
index fd16f2239a00..64cfd617eefc 100755
--- a/scripts/checkpatch.pl
+++ b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
@@ -2335,6 +2335,7 @@ sub process {
 	my $is_binding_patch = -1;
 	my $in_header_lines = $file ? 0 : 1;
 	my $in_commit_log = 0;		#Scanning lines before patch
+	my $has_patch_separator = 0;	#Found a --- line
 	my $has_commit_log = 0;		#Encountered lines before patch
 	my $commit_log_lines = 0;	#Number of commit log lines
 	my $commit_log_possible_stack_dump = 0;
@@ -2660,6 +2661,12 @@ sub process {
 			}
 		}
 
+# Check for patch separator
+		if ($line =~ /^---$/) {
+			$has_patch_separator = 1;
+			$in_commit_log = 0;
+		}
+
 # Check if MAINTAINERS is being updated.  If so, there's probably no need to
 # emit the "does MAINTAINERS need updating?" message on file add/move/delete
 		if ($line =~ /^\s*MAINTAINERS\s*\|/) {
@@ -2759,10 +2766,10 @@ sub process {
 			     "A patch subject line should describe the change not the tool that found it\n" . $herecurr);
 		}
 
-# Check for unwanted Gerrit info
-		if ($in_commit_log && $line =~ /^\s*change-id:/i) {
+# Check for Gerrit Change-Ids not in any patch context
+		if ($realfile eq '' && !$has_patch_separator && $line =~ /^\s*change-id:/i) {
 			ERROR("GERRIT_CHANGE_ID",
-			      "Remove Gerrit Change-Id's before submitting upstream.\n" . $herecurr);
+			      "Remove Gerrit Change-Id's before submitting upstream\n" . $herecurr);
 		}
 
 # Check if the commit log is in a possible stack dump