diff --git a/.checkpatch.conf b/.checkpatch.conf
index e92b96f..63bdf7b 100644
--- a/.checkpatch.conf
+++ b/.checkpatch.conf
@@ -36,6 +36,10 @@
 # This is not Linux so don't expect a Linux tree!
 --no-tree
 
+# The Linux kernel expects the SPDX license tag in the first line of each file.
+# We don't follow this in the Trusted Firmware.
+--ignore SPDX_LICENSE_TAG
+
 # This clarifes the lines indications in the report.
 #
 # E.g.: