diff --git a/scripts/checkpatch.pl b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
index 7c79c91662c8..e2cb1f4621b7 100755
--- a/scripts/checkpatch.pl
+++ b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
@@ -3878,6 +3878,16 @@ sub process {
 			}
 		}
 
+# check for new externs in .h files.
+		if ($realfile =~ /\.h$/ &&
+		    $line =~ /^\+\s*(extern\s+)$Type\s*$Ident\s*\(/s) {
+			if (WARN("AVOID_EXTERNS",
+				 "extern prototypes should be avoided in .h files\n" . $herecurr) &&
+			    $fix) {
+				$fixed[$linenr - 1] =~ s/(.*)\bextern\b\s*(.*)/$1$2/;
+			}
+		}
+
 # check for new externs in .c files.
 		if ($realfile =~ /\.c$/ && defined $stat &&
 		    $stat =~ /^.\s*(?:extern\s+)?$Type\s+($Ident)(\s*)\(/s)