diff --git a/define_excluded/define_excluded.sh b/define_excluded/define_excluded.sh
index d384ca92..13e0e66d 100755
--- a/define_excluded/define_excluded.sh
+++ b/define_excluded/define_excluded.sh
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 
 # Define directories usually excluded by various CI tools
 excluded=".git/
+.upgradenotes/*.yml
 auth/cas/CAS/
 admin/tool/componentlibrary/hugo/dist/css/docs.css.map
 admin/tool/componentlibrary/docs/
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/31-whitespace-upgradenotes.patch b/tests/fixtures/31-whitespace-upgradenotes.patch
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..90dbcfc8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/fixtures/31-whitespace-upgradenotes.patch
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+From d6a28ff1970f63efe4720a81c8feda8b22bdab0b Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
+From: Andrew Nicols <andrew@nicols.co.uk>
+Date: Thu, 3 Oct 2024 23:35:55 +0800
+Subject: [PATCH 1/1] Ignore whitespace issues in upgradenotes
+
+---
+ .upgradenotes/MDL-81675-2024052916042539.yml | 13 +++++++++++++
+ 1 file changed, 13 insertions(+)
+ create mode 100644 .upgradenotes/MDL-81675-2024052916042539.yml
+
+diff --git a/.upgradenotes/MDL-81675-2024052916042539.yml b/.upgradenotes/MDL-81675-2024052916042539.yml
+new file mode 100644
+index 0000000000..ed29757e0c
+--- /dev/null
++++ b/.upgradenotes/MDL-81675-2024052916042539.yml
+@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
++issueNumber: MDL-81675
++notes:
++  core_course:
++    - message: >+
++        - New optional `sectionNum` parameter has been added to `activitychooser`
++        AMD module initializer.
++
++        - New option `sectionnum` parameter has been added to
++        `get_course_content_items()` external function.
++        
++        - New optional `sectionnum` parameter has been added to
++        `get_content_items_for_user_in_course()` function.
++      type: improved
+-- 
+2.42.0
+
diff --git a/tests/illegal_whitespace.bats b/tests/illegal_whitespace.bats
index 0c87523a..61ed7ecf 100755
--- a/tests/illegal_whitespace.bats
+++ b/tests/illegal_whitespace.bats
@@ -37,6 +37,18 @@ teardown () {
     assert_output --partial "continue in best results ever"
 }
 
+@test "illegal_whitespace: failure ignored for excluded file" {
+    # Lets introduce a whitespace error and ensure it fails
+    git_apply_fixture 31-whitespace-upgradenotes.patch
+
+    ci_run illegal_whitespace/illegal_whitespace.sh
+    assert_success
+    assert_output --partial "current count: 959"
+    assert_output --partial "previous count: 959"
+    assert_output --partial "best count: 959"
+    assert_output --partial "continue in best results ever"
+}
+
 @test "illegal_whitespace: failure reported when whitespace error detected" {
     # Lets introduce a whitespace error and ensure it fails
     git_apply_fixture 31-whitespace-error.patch