diff --git a/scripts/checkpatch.pl b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
index 78e7a310af46..3d4040322ae1 100755
--- a/scripts/checkpatch.pl
+++ b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
@@ -3919,10 +3919,12 @@ sub process {
 
 # function brace can't be on same line, except for #defines of do while,
 # or if closed on same line
-		if (($line=~/$Type\s*$Ident\(.*\).*\s*{/) and
-		    !($line=~/\#\s*define.*do\s\{/) and !($line=~/}/)) {
+		if ($^V && $^V ge 5.10.0 &&
+		    $sline =~ /$Type\s*$Ident\s*$balanced_parens\s*\{/ &&
+		    $sline !~ /\#\s*define\b.*do\s*\{/ &&
+		    $sline !~ /}/) {
 			if (ERROR("OPEN_BRACE",
-				  "open brace '{' following function declarations go on the next line\n" . $herecurr) &&
+				  "open brace '{' following function definitions go on the next line\n" . $herecurr) &&
 			    $fix) {
 				fix_delete_line($fixlinenr, $rawline);
 				my $fixed_line = $rawline;