diff --git a/sys/compat/linux/linux_xattr.c b/sys/compat/linux/linux_xattr.c
index 13c77f39a3e2..dff1db0e3d9f 100644
--- a/sys/compat/linux/linux_xattr.c
+++ b/sys/compat/linux/linux_xattr.c
@@ -395,7 +395,8 @@ setxattr(struct thread *td, struct setxattr_args *args)
 		    attrname, args->value, args->size);
 out:
 	td->td_retval[0] = 0;
-	return (error);
+	return ((error == EPERM && attrnamespace == EXTATTR_NAMESPACE_SYSTEM)
+			? ENOTSUP : error);
 }
 
 int