diff --git a/scripts/checkpatch.pl b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
index 8f7053ec9b..3d185cceac 100755
--- a/scripts/checkpatch.pl
+++ b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
@@ -1532,6 +1532,7 @@ sub process {
 		     ($line =~ /\{\s*([\w\/\.\-]*)\s*\=\>\s*([\w\/\.\-]*)\s*\}/ &&
 		      (defined($1) || defined($2)))) &&
                       !(($realfile ne '') &&
+                        defined($acpi_testexpected) &&
                         ($realfile eq $acpi_testexpected))) {
 			$reported_maintainer_file = 1;
 			WARN("added, moved or deleted file(s), does MAINTAINERS need updating?\n" . $herecurr);