diff --git a/scripts/checkpatch.pl b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
index 90e1edc8dd42fbfba3c31d03214f99d4e3c361b4..d5c8e9a3a73cfc1450b7c698e10aa9848a01dad2 100755
--- a/scripts/checkpatch.pl
+++ b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
@@ -2599,7 +2599,7 @@ sub process {
 # if LONG_LINE is ignored, the other 2 types are also ignored
 #
 
-		if ($length > $max_line_length) {
+		if ($line =~ /^\+/ && $length > $max_line_length) {
 			my $msg_type = "LONG_LINE";
 
 			# Check the allowed long line types first