diff --git a/tests/sanity/style.test b/tests/sanity/style.test
index 52ce2a2f2..dfe263031 100755
--- a/tests/sanity/style.test
+++ b/tests/sanity/style.test
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ for dir in "$TOP/spot" "$TOP/bin" "$TOP/tests"; do
       $GREP '[	 ]if ([^()]*([^()]*)[^()]*).*;' $tmp &&
 	diag 'if body should be on another line.'
 
-      $GREP -E '[	 ]else.*;(|.*}.*)$' $tmp &&
+      $GREP -E '[	 ]else [^i][^f].*;(|.*}.*)$' $tmp &&
 	diag 'else body should be on another line.'
 
       $GREP '[	 ]while(' $tmp &&