diff --git a/scripts/checkpatch.pl b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
index d94f5d8..10ad5ab 100755
--- a/scripts/checkpatch.pl
+++ b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
@@ -4446,7 +4446,7 @@
 			my $expr = '\s*\(\s*' . quotemeta($1) . '\s*\)\s*;';
 			if ($line =~ /\b(kfree|usb_free_urb|debugfs_remove(?:_recursive)?)$expr/) {
 				WARN('NEEDLESS_IF',
-				     "$1(NULL) is safe this check is probably not required\n" . $hereprev);
+				     "$1(NULL) is safe and this check is probably not required\n" . $hereprev);
 			}
 		}