diff --git a/build-aux/bracket-spacing.pl b/build-aux/bracket-spacing.pl
index 802a640e4ed9102c5821b640cfcf98a69e1de3ed..4f9f13a6864d728bde7d9c9c7a3d8837cc9c6b21 100755
--- a/build-aux/bracket-spacing.pl
+++ b/build-aux/bracket-spacing.pl
@@ -144,6 +144,14 @@ foreach my $file (@ARGV) {
             $ret = 1;
             last;
         }
+
+        # Require spaces around assignment '=' and compounds
+        while ($data =~ /[^!<>&|\-+*\/%\^'= ]=[^=]/ ||
+               $data =~ /[^!<>&|\-+*\/%\^'=]=[^= \\\n]/) {
+            print "$file:$.: $line";
+            $ret = 1;
+            last;
+        }
     }
     close FILE;
 }