diff --git a/tests/sys/netpfil/pf/utils.subr b/tests/sys/netpfil/pf/utils.subr
index 915aba318d18..34236335d44a 100644
--- a/tests/sys/netpfil/pf/utils.subr
+++ b/tests/sys/netpfil/pf/utils.subr
@@ -40,6 +40,10 @@ pft_set_rules()
 		printf "$1\n"
 		shift
 	done | jexec ${jname} pfctl -f -
+	if [ $? -ne 0 ];
+	then
+		atf_fail "Failed to set PF rules in ${jname}"
+	fi
 }
 
 pft_cleanup()