diff --git a/scripts/check_format.sh b/scripts/check_format.sh
index edea664a9..2e841ef46 100755
--- a/scripts/check_format.sh
+++ b/scripts/check_format.sh
@@ -77,8 +77,7 @@ rm -f whitespace.log
 
 echo -n "Checking for use of forbidden library functions..."
 
-git grep -w '\(strcpy\|sprintf\|vsprintf\)' -- app examples lib test > badfunc.log || true
-
+git grep --line-number -w '\(strcpy\|sprintf\|vsprintf\)' -- './*.c' ':!lib/vhost/rte_vhost*/**' > badfunc.log || true
 if [ -s badfunc.log ]; then
 	echo " Forbidden library functions detected"
 	cat badfunc.log