diff --git a/tools/nxstyle.c b/tools/nxstyle.c
index 9592382616..b2bb33fe5a 100644
--- a/tools/nxstyle.c
+++ b/tools/nxstyle.c
@@ -2269,12 +2269,22 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv, char **envp)
             }
           else if (line[indent] == '{')
             {
+              /* Check for left brace in first column, but preceded by a
+               * blank line.  Should never happen (but could happen with
+               * internal compound statements).
+               */
+
+              if (indent == 0 && lineno == blank_lineno + 1)
+                {
+                  ERROR("Blank line before opening left brace", lineno, indent);
+                }
+
               /* REVISIT:  Possible false alarms in compound statements
                * without a preceding conditional.  That usage often violates
                * the coding standard.
                */
 
-              if (!bfunctions && (indent & 1) != 0)
+              else if (!bfunctions && (indent & 1) != 0)
                 {
                   ERROR("Bad left brace alignment", lineno, indent);
                 }