diff --git a/scripts/checkpatch.pl b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
index 7997300d5d30..ac5656ef2aec 100755
--- a/scripts/checkpatch.pl
+++ b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
@@ -2589,6 +2589,7 @@ sub process {
 		     $line =~ /^rename (?:from|to) [\w\/\.\-]+\s*$/ ||
 		     ($line =~ /\{\s*([\w\/\.\-]*)\s*\=\>\s*([\w\/\.\-]*)\s*\}/ &&
 		      (defined($1) || defined($2))))) {
+			$is_patch = 1;
 			$reported_maintainer_file = 1;
 			WARN("FILE_PATH_CHANGES",
 			     "added, moved or deleted file(s), does MAINTAINERS need updating?\n" . $herecurr);