diff --git a/scripts/checkpatch.pl b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
index 6b21188d2cf7..17e1d94fa1fa 100755
--- a/scripts/checkpatch.pl
+++ b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
@@ -1324,7 +1324,7 @@ sub process {
 				possible($type, "A:" . $s);
 
 			# definitions in global scope can only start with types
-			} elsif ($s =~ /^.(?:$Storage\s+)?(?:$Inline\s+)?(?:const\s+)?($Ident)\b/s) {
+			} elsif ($s =~ /^.(?:$Storage\s+)?(?:$Inline\s+)?(?:const\s+)?($Ident)\b\s*(?!:)/s) {
 				possible($1, "B:" . $s);
 			}