diff --git a/scripts/checkpatch.pl b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
index 9846ddeafdf0..0c520f7bf095 100755
--- a/scripts/checkpatch.pl
+++ b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
@@ -2431,7 +2431,7 @@ sub process {
 				"please, no space before tabs\n" . $herevet) &&
 			    $fix) {
 				while ($fixed[$fixlinenr] =~
-					   s/(^\+.*) {8,8}+\t/$1\t\t/) {}
+					   s/(^\+.*) {8,8}\t/$1\t\t/) {}
 				while ($fixed[$fixlinenr] =~
 					   s/(^\+.*) +\t/$1\t/) {}
 			}