diff --git a/scripts/ci/check_compliance.py b/scripts/ci/check_compliance.py
index 944cc8ce443..f3c4009eb1b 100755
--- a/scripts/ci/check_compliance.py
+++ b/scripts/ci/check_compliance.py
@@ -1884,6 +1884,9 @@ class KeepSorted(ComplianceTest):
                 # Ignore blank lines
                 continue
 
+            if strip is not None:
+                line = line.strip(strip)
+
             if regex:
                 # check for regex
                 if not re.match(regex, line):
@@ -1892,9 +1895,6 @@ class KeepSorted(ComplianceTest):
                 if _test_indent(line):
                     continue
 
-                if strip is not None:
-                    line = line.strip(strip)
-
                 if fold:
                     # Fold back indented lines after the current one
                     for cont in takewhile(_test_indent, lines[idx + 1:]):
@@ -1918,8 +1918,8 @@ class KeepSorted(ComplianceTest):
 
         start_marker = f"{self.MARKER}-start"
         stop_marker = f"{self.MARKER}-stop"
-        regex_marker = r"re\((.+)\)"
-        strip_marker = r"strip\((.+)\)"
+        regex_marker = r"re\(([^)]+)\)"
+        strip_marker = r"strip\(([^)]+)\)"
         nofold_marker = "nofold"
         start_line = 0
         regex = None