diff --git a/scripts/checkpatch.pl b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
index 5deee8bd0bae..eb534d48140e 100755
--- a/scripts/checkpatch.pl
+++ b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
@@ -4089,7 +4089,7 @@ sub process {
 			my ($where, $prefix) = ($-[1], $1);
 			if ($prefix !~ /$Type\s+$/ &&
 			    ($where != 0 || $prefix !~ /^.\s+$/) &&
-			    $prefix !~ /[{,]\s+$/) {
+			    $prefix !~ /[{,:]\s+$/) {
 				if (ERROR("BRACKET_SPACE",
 					  "space prohibited before open square bracket '['\n" . $herecurr) &&
 				    $fix) {