diff --git a/scripts/checkpatch.pl b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
index d2464002bb40..5deee8bd0bae 100755
--- a/scripts/checkpatch.pl
+++ b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
@@ -3062,6 +3062,12 @@ sub process {
 			}
 		}
 
+# check for assignments on the start of a line
+		if ($sline =~ /^\+\s+($Assignment)[^=]/) {
+			CHK("ASSIGNMENT_CONTINUATIONS",
+			    "Assignment operator '$1' should be on the previous line\n" . $hereprev);
+		}
+
 # check for && or || at the start of a line
 		if ($rawline =~ /^\+\s*(&&|\|\|)/) {
 			CHK("LOGICAL_CONTINUATIONS",