--- /tmp/Makefile.maint.orig	2006-02-17 23:58:46.000000000 +0100
+++ /tmp/Makefile.maint	2006-02-17 23:53:52.000000000 +0100
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@
 		1>&2; exit 1; } || :
 
 sc_two_space_separator_in_usage:
-	@grep -n '^   *--[a-z][0-9A-Za-z-]* [^ ].*\\$$'			\
+	@grep -n '^   *\(-[A-Za-z],\)\? --[a-z][0-9A-Za-z-]*\(\[=[0-9A-Za-z-]*\]\)\? [^ ].*\\$$' \
 	    $$($(CVS_LIST_EXCEPT)) &&					\
 	  { echo "$(ME): help2man requires at least two spaces between"; \
 	    echo "$(ME): an option and its description"; \