diff --git a/scripts/checkpatch.pl b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
index 5382f7287397..18646f076a84 100755
--- a/scripts/checkpatch.pl
+++ b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
@@ -335,7 +335,7 @@ sub sanitise_line {
 			$off++;
 			next;
 		}
-		if (substr($line, $off, 2) eq '*/') {
+		if ($sanitise_quote eq '*/' && substr($line, $off, 2) eq '*/') {
 			$sanitise_quote = '';
 			substr($res, $off, 2, "$;$;");
 			$off++;