diff --git a/util/lint/checkpatch.pl b/util/lint/checkpatch.pl
index f1c31c54c0..41aae935f5 100755
--- a/util/lint/checkpatch.pl
+++ b/util/lint/checkpatch.pl
@@ -2655,9 +2655,9 @@ sub process {
 			$commit_log_possible_stack_dump = 1;
 		}
 
-# Check for line lengths > 75 in commit log, warn once
+# Check for line lengths > 72 in commit log, warn once
 		if ($in_commit_log && !$commit_log_long_line &&
-		    length($line) > 75 &&
+		    length($line) > 72 &&
 		    !($line =~ /^\s*[a-zA-Z0-9_\/\.]+\s+\|\s+\d+/ ||
 					# file delta changes
 		      $line =~ /^\s*(?:[\w\.\-]+\/)++[\w\.\-]+:/ ||
@@ -2666,7 +2666,7 @@ sub process {
 					# A Fixes: or Link: line
 		      $commit_log_possible_stack_dump)) {
 			WARN("COMMIT_LOG_LONG_LINE",
-			     "Possible unwrapped commit description (prefer a maximum 75 chars per line)\n" . $herecurr);
+			     "Possible unwrapped commit description (prefer a maximum 72 chars per line)\n" . $herecurr);
 			$commit_log_long_line = 1;
 		}