diff --git a/tools/code_format/check_format.py b/tools/code_format/check_format.py
index 36441ac7256c9..311efac16a3d8 100755
--- a/tools/code_format/check_format.py
+++ b/tools/code_format/check_format.py
@@ -1220,9 +1220,10 @@ def owned_directories(error_messages):
     # Calculate the list of owned directories once per run.
     error_messages = []
     owned_directories = owned_directories(error_messages)
-
     if os.path.isfile(args.target_path):
-        error_messages += format_checker.check_format("./" + args.target_path)
+        if not args.target_path.startswith(EXCLUDED_PREFIXES) and args.target_path.endswith(
+                SUFFIXES):
+            error_messages += format_checker.check_format("./" + args.target_path)
     else:
         results = []
 
diff --git a/tools/code_format/python_check.py b/tools/code_format/python_check.py
index 9f4a556b62e8e..512576bfec7cb 100755
--- a/tools/code_format/python_check.py
+++ b/tools/code_format/python_check.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 #
 # alternatively, if you have the necessary python deps available
 #
-#  ./tools/code_format/python_check.py -h
+#  PYTHONPATH=. ./tools/code_format/python_check.py -h
 #
 # python requires: flake8, yapf
 #