diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/net/devlink_port_split.py b/tools/testing/selftests/net/devlink_port_split.py
index 834066d465fc130941861bcaa5b8b7a744df7402..2b5d6ff8737388f60b9b8cef771368e8dd49d81b 100755
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/net/devlink_port_split.py
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/net/devlink_port_split.py
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ import sys
 #
 
 
+# Kselftest framework requirement - SKIP code is 4
+KSFT_SKIP=4
 Port = collections.namedtuple('Port', 'bus_info name')
 
 
@@ -239,7 +241,11 @@ def main(cmdline=None):
         assert stderr == ""
 
         devs = json.loads(stdout)['dev']
-        dev = list(devs.keys())[0]
+        if devs:
+            dev = list(devs.keys())[0]
+        else:
+            print("no devlink device was found, test skipped")
+            sys.exit(KSFT_SKIP)
 
     cmd = "devlink dev show %s" % dev
     stdout, stderr = run_command(cmd)