diff --git a/asciidoc_linter/rules/whitespace_rules.py b/asciidoc_linter/rules/whitespace_rules.py
index 3ea8359..ceb6f8e 100644
--- a/asciidoc_linter/rules/whitespace_rules.py
+++ b/asciidoc_linter/rules/whitespace_rules.py
@@ -41,6 +41,9 @@ def check_line(
         findings = []
         line_content = self.get_line_content(line)
 
+        # Debug output to see why the whitespace_rules got triggered
+        print(f"Checking line {line_number + 1}: {line_content}")
+
         # Check for multiple consecutive empty lines
         if not line_content.strip():
             self.consecutive_empty_lines += 1
@@ -121,7 +124,7 @@ def check_line(
             # Check for blank line before section title (except for first line)
             if line_number > 0:
                 prev_content = self.get_line_content(context[line_number - 1])
-                if prev_content.strip():
+                if prev_content.strip() and not prev_content.strip().startswith(("[.", "[[")):
                     findings.append(
                         Finding(
                             rule_id=self.id,
@@ -135,7 +138,7 @@ def check_line(
             # Check for blank line after section title (except for last line)
             if line_number < len(context) - 1:
                 next_content = self.get_line_content(context[line_number + 1])
-                if next_content.strip():
+                if next_content.strip() and not next_content.strip().startswith(":"):
                     findings.append(
                         Finding(
                             rule_id=self.id,
diff --git a/tests/rules/test_heading_rules.py b/tests/rules/test_heading_rules.py
old mode 100755
new mode 100644
index c577188..2866fc6
--- a/tests/rules/test_heading_rules.py
+++ b/tests/rules/test_heading_rules.py
@@ -308,5 +308,61 @@ def test_multiple_top_level(self):
         )
 
 
+class TestHeadingAttributesAndRoles(unittest.TestCase):
+    """Tests for headings with attributes or roles.
+    This rule ensures that headings followed by attributes or roles are handled correctly.
+    """
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        """
+        Given a HeadingFormatRule instance
+        """
+        self.rule = HeadingFormatRule()
+
+    def test_heading_with_attribute(self):
+        """
+        Given a document with headings followed by attributes
+        When the heading format rule is checked
+        Then no findings should be reported
+        """
+        # Given: A document with headings followed by attributes
+        content = """
+= Level 1
+:attribute: value
+
+== Level 2
+:another-attribute: value
+"""
+        # When: We check the heading format
+        findings = self.rule.check(content)
+
+        # Then: No findings should be reported
+        self.assertEqual(
+            len(findings), 0, "Headings followed by attributes should not produce findings"
+        )
+
+    def test_heading_with_role(self):
+        """
+        Given a document with headings followed by roles
+        When the heading format rule is checked
+        Then no findings should be reported
+        """
+        # Given: A document with headings followed by roles
+        content = """
+[.role]
+= Level 1
+
+[[target]]
+== Level 2
+"""
+        # When: We check the heading format
+        findings = self.rule.check(content)
+
+        # Then: No findings should be reported
+        self.assertEqual(
+            len(findings), 0, "Headings followed by roles should not produce findings"
+        )
+
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main()
diff --git a/tests/test_linter.py b/tests/test_linter.py
index 79156f4..a22eb9f 100644
--- a/tests/test_linter.py
+++ b/tests/test_linter.py
@@ -184,3 +184,27 @@ def test_lint_with_config_file(tmp_path, sample_asciidoc):
 
     # Ensure that the WS001 rule is disabled and no findings are reported
     assert len(report.findings) == 0
+
+
+def test_lint_string_with_attributes_and_roles(mock_parser, mock_rule):
+    """Test linting a string with headings followed by attributes or roles"""
+    content = """
+= Title
+:attribute: value
+
+[.role]
+== Section 1
+
+[[target]]
+== Section 2
+"""
+
+    with patch("asciidoc_linter.linter.AsciiDocParser", return_value=mock_parser):
+        linter = AsciiDocLinter()
+        linter.rules = [mock_rule]
+
+        findings = linter.lint_string(content)
+
+        assert len(findings) == 0
+        mock_parser.parse.assert_called_once_with(content)
+        mock_rule.check.assert_called_once()
diff --git a/tests/test_reporter.py b/tests/test_reporter.py
old mode 100755
new mode 100644
index 3e51b2a..b676ce3
--- a/tests/test_reporter.py
+++ b/tests/test_reporter.py
@@ -171,3 +171,29 @@ def test_html_reporter_styling(sample_report):
     assert "<style>" in output
     assert "table {" in output
     assert "border-collapse: collapse" in output
+
+
+def test_console_reporter_with_attributes_and_roles():
+    """Test formatting errors with headings followed by attributes or roles"""
+    findings = [
+        Finding(
+            message="Section title should be followed by a blank line",
+            severity=Severity.WARNING,
+            file="test.adoc",
+            position=Position(line=2),
+            rule_id="WS001",
+        ),
+        Finding(
+            message="Section title should be preceded by a blank line",
+            severity=Severity.WARNING,
+            file="test.adoc",
+            position=Position(line=4),
+            rule_id="WS001",
+        ),
+    ]
+    report = LintReport(findings)
+    reporter = ConsoleReporter(enable_color=False)
+    lines = reporter.format_report(report).split("\n")
+    assert "Results for test.adoc:" in lines
+    assert "✗ test.adoc, line 2: Section title should be followed by a blank line" in lines
+    assert "✗ test.adoc, line 4: Section title should be preceded by a blank line" in lines