diff --git a/tools/regression/geom_subr.sh b/tools/regression/geom_subr.sh
index 58dc31dd5b43..b437183efede 100644
--- a/tools/regression/geom_subr.sh
+++ b/tools/regression/geom_subr.sh
@@ -1,13 +1,6 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 # $FreeBSD$
 
-if [ $(id -u) -ne 0 ]; then
-	echo 'Tests must be run as root'
-	echo 'Bail out!'
-	exit 1
-fi
-kldstat -q -m g_${class} || geom ${class} load || exit 1
-
 devwait()
 {
 	while :; do
@@ -18,13 +11,6 @@ devwait()
 	done
 }
 
-# Need to keep track of the test md devices to avoid the scenario where a test
-# failing will cause the other tests to bomb out, or a test failing will leave
-# a large number of md(4) devices lingering around
-: ${TMPDIR=/tmp}
-export TMPDIR
-TEST_MDS_FILE=$(mktemp ${TMPDIR}/test_mds.XXXXXX) || exit 1
-
 attach_md()
 {
 	local test_md
@@ -38,12 +24,37 @@ geom_test_cleanup()
 {
 	local test_md
 
-	if [ -f $TEST_MDS_FILE ]; then
+	if [ -f "$TEST_MDS_FILE" ]; then
 		while read test_md; do
 			# The "#" tells the TAP parser this is a comment
 			echo "# Removing test memory disk: $test_md"
 			mdconfig -d -u $test_md
 		done < $TEST_MDS_FILE
 	fi
-	rm -f $TEST_MDS_FILE
+	rm -f "$TEST_MDS_FILE"
 }
+
+if [ $(id -u) -ne 0 ]; then
+	echo 'Tests must be run as root'
+	echo 'Bail out!'
+	exit 1
+fi
+# If the geom class isn't already loaded, try loading it.
+if ! kldstat -q -m g_${class}; then
+	if ! geom ${class} load; then
+		echo "Could not load module for geom class=${class}"
+		echo 'Bail out!'
+		exit 1
+	fi
+fi
+
+# Need to keep track of the test md devices to avoid the scenario where a test
+# failing will cause the other tests to bomb out, or a test failing will leave
+# a large number of md(4) devices lingering around
+: ${TMPDIR=/tmp}
+export TMPDIR
+if ! TEST_MDS_FILE=$(mktemp ${TMPDIR}/test_mds.XXXXXX); then
+	echo 'Failed to create temporary file for tracking the test md(4) devices'
+	echo 'Bail out!'
+	exit 1
+fi