diff --git a/scripts/checkpatch.pl b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
index 21a9f5d..13d264f 100755
--- a/scripts/checkpatch.pl
+++ b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
@@ -3579,6 +3579,14 @@ sub process {
 			WARN("EXPORTED_WORLD_WRITABLE",
 			     "Exporting world writable files is usually an error. Consider more restrictive permissions.\n" . $herecurr);
 		}
+
+# check for double empty lines
+		if ($line =~ /^\+\s*$/ &&
+		    ($rawlines[$linenr] =~ /^\s*$/ ||
+		     $prevline =~ /^\+?\s*$/ && $rawlines[$linenr] !~ /^\+\s*$/)) {
+			CHK("DOUBLE_EMPTY_LINE",
+			    "One empty line should be sufficient. Consider removing this one.\n" . $herecurr);
+		}
 	}
 
 	# If we have no input at all, then there is nothing to report on