diff --git a/scripts/checkpatch.pl b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
index 66bcedc..457f874 100755
--- a/scripts/checkpatch.pl
+++ b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
@@ -1363,14 +1363,6 @@
 				ERROR("switch and case should be at the same indent\n$hereline$err");
 			}
 		}
-		if ($line =~ /^.\s*(?:case\s*.*|default\s*):/g &&
-		    $line !~ /\G(?:
-			(?:\s*{)?(?:\s*$;*)(?:\s*\\)?\s*$|
-			\s*return\s+
-		    )/xg)
-		{
-			ERROR("trailing statements should be on next line\n" . $herecurr);
-		}
 
 # if/while/etc brace do not go on next line, unless defining a do while loop,
 # or if that brace on the next line is for something else
@@ -1986,6 +1978,15 @@
 				ERROR("trailing statements should be on next line\n" . $herecurr);
 			}
 		}
+# case and default should not have general statements after them
+		if ($line =~ /^.\s*(?:case\s*.*|default\s*):/g &&
+		    $line !~ /\G(?:
+			(?:\s*{)?(?:\s*$;*)(?:\s*\\)?\s*$|
+			\s*return\s+
+		    )/xg)
+		{
+			ERROR("trailing statements should be on next line\n" . $herecurr);
+		}
 
 		# Check for }<nl>else {, these must be at the same
 		# indent level to be relevant to each other.