diff --git a/dev/lint-r b/dev/lint-r
index c15d57aad86da..bfda0bca15eb7 100755
--- a/dev/lint-r
+++ b/dev/lint-r
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ fi
 
 `which Rscript` --vanilla "$SPARK_ROOT_DIR/dev/lint-r.R" "$SPARK_ROOT_DIR" | tee "$LINT_R_REPORT_FILE_NAME"
 
-NUM_LINES=`wc -l < "$LINT_R_REPORT_FILE_NAME"`
+NUM_LINES=`wc -l < "$LINT_R_REPORT_FILE_NAME" | awk '{print $1}'`
 if [ "$NUM_LINES" = "0" ] ; then
   lint_status=0
   echo "lintr checks passed."