diff --git a/cpplint.py b/cpplint.py
index 342c5da..40003ef 100755
--- a/cpplint.py
+++ b/cpplint.py
@@ -3024,6 +3024,17 @@
   # reason.  This includes the first line after a block is opened, and
   # blank lines at the end of a function (ie, right before a line like '}'
   #
+  # Check if there is an empty line at the beginning or more than one
+  # consecutive empty lines.
+  if IsBlankLine(line):
+    if linenum == 1 and clean_lines.NumLines() > 2:
+      error(filename, linenum, 'whitespace/blank_line', 2,
+            'Redundant blank line at file beginning.')
+    if (linenum > 1 and IsBlankLine(raw[linenum - 1]) and
+        not IsBlankLine(raw[linenum - 2])):
+      error(filename, linenum, 'whitespace/blank_line', 2,
+            'Redundant blank line(s).')
+  #
   # Skip all the blank line checks if we are immediately inside a
   # namespace body.  In other words, don't issue blank line warnings
   # for this block: