diff --git a/lib/libzfs/libzfs_dataset.c b/lib/libzfs/libzfs_dataset.c
index 44fdadd17277..e8c329ced9cb 100644
--- a/lib/libzfs/libzfs_dataset.c
+++ b/lib/libzfs/libzfs_dataset.c
@@ -413,6 +413,9 @@ make_dataset_handle_common(zfs_handle_t *zhp, zfs_cmd_t *zc)
 		zhp->zfs_head_type = ZFS_TYPE_VOLUME;
 	else if (zhp->zfs_dmustats.dds_type == DMU_OST_ZFS)
 		zhp->zfs_head_type = ZFS_TYPE_FILESYSTEM;
+	else if (zhp->zfs_dmustats.dds_type == DMU_OST_OTHER)
+		return (-1); /* zpios' and other testing datasets are
+		                of this type, ignore if encountered */
 	else
 		abort();