diff --git a/tools/diff.py b/tools/diff.py
index a42a4dc7cafe1905145fbfd42ff0dc3a423e2d4c..a96c7db851db5e5ebbc61160f1a020df2ece07f9 100644
--- a/tools/diff.py
+++ b/tools/diff.py
@@ -56,6 +56,9 @@ class DiffHunk(object):
         elif line[0] == " ":
             self.left.Append(line)
             self.right.Append(line)
+        elif line[0] == "\\":
+            # Ignore newline messages from git diff.
+            pass
         else:
             assert False, ("Unrecognized character at start of diff line "
                            "%r" % line[0])