diff --git a/scripts/checkpatch.pl b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
index 24d6702a95c2..41e7db451cc0 100755
--- a/scripts/checkpatch.pl
+++ b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
@@ -2082,6 +2082,12 @@ sub process {
 			$in_commit_log = 0;
 		}
 
+# Check if MAINTAINERS is being updated.  If so, there's probably no need to
+# emit the "does MAINTAINERS need updating?" message on file add/move/delete
+		if ($line =~ /^\s*MAINTAINERS\s*\|/) {
+			$reported_maintainer_file = 1;
+		}
+
 # Check signature styles
 		if (!$in_header_lines &&
 		    $line =~ /^(\s*)([a-z0-9_-]+by:|$signature_tags)(\s*)(.*)/i) {