diff --git a/tests/sys/fs/fusefs/mockfs.cc b/tests/sys/fs/fusefs/mockfs.cc
index 620af778e8cf..c5cefe9560f4 100644
--- a/tests/sys/fs/fusefs/mockfs.cc
+++ b/tests/sys/fs/fusefs/mockfs.cc
@@ -637,8 +637,10 @@ void MockFS::read_request(mockfs_buf_in &in) {
 	}
 	res = read(m_fuse_fd, &in, sizeof(in));
 
-	if (res < 0 && !m_quit)
-		perror("read");
+	if (res < 0 && !m_quit) {
+		FAIL() << "read: " << strerror(errno);
+		m_quit = true;
+	}
 	ASSERT_TRUE(res >= static_cast<ssize_t>(sizeof(in.header)) || m_quit);
 }