diff --git a/scripts/checkpatch.pl b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
index 45eb0ae..c71a0fa 100755
--- a/scripts/checkpatch.pl
+++ b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
@@ -2560,7 +2560,7 @@
 		if ($line =~ /\bin_atomic\s*\(/) {
 			if ($realfile =~ m@^drivers/@) {
 				ERROR("do not use in_atomic in drivers\n" . $herecurr);
-			} else {
+			} elsif ($realfile !~ m@^kernel/@) {
 				WARN("use of in_atomic() is incorrect outside core kernel code\n" . $herecurr);
 			}
 		}