diff --git a/scripts/checkpatch.pl b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
index d7a44fd3b224..25d716cc44dc 100755
--- a/scripts/checkpatch.pl
+++ b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
@@ -1791,9 +1791,9 @@ sub process {
 			WARN("EXPORT_SYMBOL(foo); should immediately follow its function/variable\n" . $herecurr);
 		}
 
-# check for external initialisers.
+# check for global initialisers.
 		if ($line =~ /^.$Type\s*$Ident\s*(?:\s+$Modifier)*\s*=\s*(0|NULL|false)\s*;/) {
-			ERROR("do not initialise externals to 0 or NULL\n" .
+			ERROR("do not initialise globals to 0 or NULL\n" .
 				$herecurr);
 		}
 # check for static initialisers.