diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/livepatch/functions.sh b/tools/testing/selftests/livepatch/functions.sh
index 846c7ed71556..9230b869371d 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/livepatch/functions.sh
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/livepatch/functions.sh
@@ -75,9 +75,25 @@ function set_dynamic_debug() {
 }
 
 function set_ftrace_enabled() {
-	result=$(sysctl -q kernel.ftrace_enabled="$1" 2>&1 && \
-		 sysctl kernel.ftrace_enabled 2>&1)
-	echo "livepatch: $result" > /dev/kmsg
+	local can_fail=0
+	if [[ "$1" == "--fail" ]] ; then
+		can_fail=1
+		shift
+	fi
+
+	local err=$(sysctl -q kernel.ftrace_enabled="$1" 2>&1)
+	local result=$(sysctl --values kernel.ftrace_enabled)
+
+	if [[ "$result" != "$1" ]] ; then
+		if [[ $can_fail -eq 1 ]] ; then
+			echo "livepatch: $err" > /dev/kmsg
+			return
+		fi
+
+		skip "failed to set kernel.ftrace_enabled = $1"
+	fi
+
+	echo "livepatch: kernel.ftrace_enabled = $result" > /dev/kmsg
 }
 
 function cleanup() {
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/livepatch/test-ftrace.sh b/tools/testing/selftests/livepatch/test-ftrace.sh
index 552e165512f4..825540a5194d 100755
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/livepatch/test-ftrace.sh
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/livepatch/test-ftrace.sh
@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@ if [[ "$(cat /proc/cmdline)" != "$MOD_LIVEPATCH: this has been live patched" ]]
 	die "livepatch kselftest(s) failed"
 fi
 
-set_ftrace_enabled 0
+# Check that ftrace could not get disabled when a livepatch is enabled
+set_ftrace_enabled --fail 0
 if [[ "$(cat /proc/cmdline)" != "$MOD_LIVEPATCH: this has been live patched" ]] ; then
 	echo -e "FAIL\n\n"
 	die "livepatch kselftest(s) failed"