diff --git a/scripts/kernel-doc b/scripts/kernel-doc
index b2d2f5849ed0..d804e4de5d99 100755
--- a/scripts/kernel-doc
+++ b/scripts/kernel-doc
@@ -2312,7 +2312,6 @@ sub process_inline($$) {
 
 sub process_file($) {
     my $file;
-    my $initial_section_counter = $section_counter;
     my ($orig_file) = @_;
 
     $file = map_filename($orig_file);
@@ -2350,8 +2349,7 @@ sub process_file($) {
     }
 
     # Make sure we got something interesting.
-    if ($initial_section_counter == $section_counter && $
-        output_mode ne "none") {
+    if (!$section_counter && $output_mode ne "none") {
         if ($output_selection == OUTPUT_INCLUDE) {
             emit_warning("${file}:1", "'$_' not found\n")
                 for keys %function_table;