diff --git a/sbin/bectl/tests/bectl_test.sh b/sbin/bectl/tests/bectl_test.sh
--- a/sbin/bectl/tests/bectl_test.sh
+++ b/sbin/bectl/tests/bectl_test.sh
@@ -49,6 +49,13 @@
 	atf_check test -n "$zpool"
 
 	kldload -n -q zfs || atf_skip "ZFS module not loaded on the current system"
+	if ! getconf MIN_HOLE_SIZE "$(pwd)"; then
+		echo "getconf MIN_HOLE_SIZE $(pwd) failed; sparse files " \
+		    "probably not supported by file system"
+		mount
+		atf_skip "Test's work directory does not support sparse files;" \
+		    "try with a different TMPDIR?"
+	fi
 	atf_check mkdir -p ${mnt}
 	atf_check truncate -s 1G ${disk}
 	atf_check zpool create -R ${mnt} ${zpool} ${disk}