diff --git a/scripts/checkpatch.pl b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
index eced9b303995..f43d95a25712 100755
--- a/scripts/checkpatch.pl
+++ b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
@@ -4531,11 +4531,11 @@ sub process {
 
 #need space before brace following if, while, etc
 		if (($line =~ /\(.*\)\{/ && $line !~ /\($Type\)\{/) ||
-		    $line =~ /do\{/) {
+		    $line =~ /\b(?:else|do)\{/) {
 			if (ERROR("SPACING",
 				  "space required before the open brace '{'\n" . $herecurr) &&
 			    $fix) {
-				$fixed[$fixlinenr] =~ s/^(\+.*(?:do|\)))\{/$1 {/;
+				$fixed[$fixlinenr] =~ s/^(\+.*(?:do|else|\)))\{/$1 {/;
 			}
 		}