diff --git a/scripts/checkpatch.pl b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
index 18646f076a84..a2e4a3d9c6d7 100755
--- a/scripts/checkpatch.pl
+++ b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
@@ -1241,9 +1241,6 @@ sub process {
 #ignore lines being removed
 		if ($line=~/^-/) {next;}
 
-# check we are in a valid source file if not then ignore this hunk
-		next if ($realfile !~ /\.(h|c|s|S|pl|sh)$/);
-
 #trailing whitespace
 		if ($line =~ /^\+.*\015/) {
 			my $herevet = "$here\n" . cat_vet($rawline) . "\n";
@@ -1253,6 +1250,10 @@ sub process {
 			my $herevet = "$here\n" . cat_vet($rawline) . "\n";
 			ERROR("trailing whitespace\n" . $herevet);
 		}
+
+# check we are in a valid source file if not then ignore this hunk
+		next if ($realfile !~ /\.(h|c|s|S|pl|sh)$/);
+
 #80 column limit
 		if ($line =~ /^\+/ && $prevrawline !~ /\/\*\*/ &&
 		    $rawline !~ /^.\s*\*\s*\@$Ident\s/ &&