diff --git a/t/t4124-apply-ws-rule.sh b/t/t4124-apply-ws-rule.sh
index f83322e..5698a9a 100755
--- a/t/t4124-apply-ws-rule.sh
+++ b/t/t4124-apply-ws-rule.sh
@@ -148,4 +148,22 @@
 	done
 done
 
+create_patch () {
+	sed -e "s/_/ /" <<-\EOF
+		diff --git a/target b/target
+		index e69de29..8bd6648 100644
+		--- a/target
+		+++ b/target
+		@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+		+A line with trailing whitespace and no newline_
+		\ No newline at end of file
+	EOF
+}
+
+test_expect_success 'trailing whitespace & no newline at the end of file' '
+	>target &&
+	create_patch | git apply --whitespace=fix - &&
+	grep "newline$" target
+'
+
 test_done
diff --git a/ws.c b/ws.c
index 819c797..8d855b7 100644
--- a/ws.c
+++ b/ws.c
@@ -261,9 +261,8 @@
 	/*
 	 * Strip trailing whitespace
 	 */
-	if ((ws_rule & WS_TRAILING_SPACE) &&
-	    (2 <= len && isspace(src[len-2]))) {
-		if (src[len - 1] == '\n') {
+	if (ws_rule & WS_TRAILING_SPACE) {
+		if (1 < len && src[len - 1] == '\n') {
 			add_nl_to_tail = 1;
 			len--;
 			if (1 < len && src[len - 1] == '\r') {