diff --git a/tests/sanity/style.test b/tests/sanity/style.test
index 94d4ff593..bcf29fea8 100755
--- a/tests/sanity/style.test
+++ b/tests/sanity/style.test
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ for dir in "$TOP/spot" "$TOP/bin" "$TOP/tests"; do
       $GREP '[	 ]if(' $tmp &&
 	diag 'Missing space after "if"'
 
-      $GREP '[	 ]if (.*).*{' $tmp &&
+      $GREP '[	 ]if ([^()]*).*{' $tmp &&
 	diag 'Opening { should be on its own line.'
 
       $GREP '[	 ]if (.*).*;' $tmp &&