diff --git a/scripts/checkpatch.pl b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
index e16d6713f236..2d42eb9cd1a5 100755
--- a/scripts/checkpatch.pl
+++ b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
@@ -5041,7 +5041,7 @@ sub process {
 				$tmp_stmt =~ s/\b(typeof|__typeof__|__builtin\w+|typecheck\s*\(\s*$Type\s*,|\#+)\s*\(*\s*$arg\s*\)*\b//g;
 				$tmp_stmt =~ s/\#+\s*$arg\b//g;
 				$tmp_stmt =~ s/\b$arg\s*\#\#//g;
-				my $use_cnt = $tmp_stmt =~ s/\b$arg\b//g;
+				my $use_cnt = () = $tmp_stmt =~ /\b$arg\b/g;
 				if ($use_cnt > 1) {
 					CHK("MACRO_ARG_REUSE",
 					    "Macro argument reuse '$arg' - possible side-effects?\n" . "$herectx");