ERR, _fmt, ## __VA_ARGS__)
+
+#define KTEST_VERIFY(x) do { \
+	if (!(x)) { \
+		KTEST_ERR(ctx, "FAIL: %s", #x); \
+		return (EINVAL); \
+	} else { \
+		KTEST_LOG(ctx, "PASS: %s", #x); \
+	} \
+} while (0)
+
+static int
+test_hpts_init(struct ktest_test_context *ctx)
+{
+	/* TODO: Refactor HPTS code so that it may be tested. */
+	KTEST_VERIFY(tcp_min_hptsi_time != 0);
+	return (0);
+}
+
+static const struct ktest_test_info tests[] = {
+	{
+		.name = "test_hpts_init",
+		.desc = "Tests HPTS initialization and cleanup",
+		.func = &test_hpts_init,
+	},
+};
+
+KTEST_MODULE_DECLARE(ktest_tcphpts, tests);
+KTEST_MODULE_DEPEND(ktest_tcphpts, tcphpts);
diff --git a/sys/tests/ktest.h b/sys/tests/ktest.h
index c767aa31e8e5..8af92f1e0c18 100644
--- a/sys/tests/ktest.h
+++ b/sys/tests/ktest.h
@@ -104,6 +104,9 @@ MODULE_VERSION(ktest_##_n, 1);						\
 MODULE_DEPEND(ktest_##_n, ktestmod, 1, 1, 1);				\
 MODULE_DEPEND(ktest_##_n, netlink, 1, 1, 1);				\
 
+#define	KTEST_MODULE_DEPEND(_n, _d)		\
+MODULE_DEPEND(ktest_##_n, _d, 1, 1, 1);	\
+
 #endif /* _KERNEL */
 
 /* genetlink definitions */
diff --git a/tests/atf_python/ktest.py b/tests/atf_python/ktest.py
index a18f47d1dd06..a671aaa1fd4c 100644
--- a/tests/atf_python/ktest.py
+++ b/tests/atf_python/ktest.py
@@ -67,6 +67,10 @@ class KtestLoader(object):
     def __init__(self, module_name: str, autoload: bool):
         self.module_name = module_name
         self.autoload = autoload
+        # Ensure the base ktest.ko module is loaded
+        result = libc.kldload("ktest")
+        if result != 0 and result != 17:  # 17 is EEXIST (already loaded)
+            logger.debug(f"Failed to load base ktest module (error {result})")
         self.helper = NlHelper()
         self.nlsock = Nlsock(NlConst.NETLINK_GENERIC, self.helper)
         self.family_id = self._get_family_id()
@@ -76,7 +80,9 @@ class KtestLoader(object):
             family_id = self.nlsock.get_genl_family_id(NETLINK_FAMILY)
         except ValueError:
             if self.autoload:
-                libc.kldload(self.module_name)
+                result = libc.kldload(self.module_name)
+                if result != 0 and result != 17:  # 17 is EEXIST (already loaded)
+                    raise RuntimeError(f"Failed to load kernel module '{self.module_name}' (error {result})")
                 family_id = self.nlsock.get_genl_family_id(NETLINK_FAMILY)
             else:
                 raise
@@ -103,7 +109,9 @@ class KtestLoader(object):
     def load_ktests(self):
         ret = self._load_ktests()
         if not ret and self.autoload:
-            libc.kldload(self.module_name)
+            result = libc.kldload(self.module_name)
+            if result != 0 and result != 17:  # 17 is EEXIST (already loaded)
+                raise RuntimeError(f"Failed to load kernel module '{self.module_name}' (error {result})")
             ret = self._load_ktests()
         return ret
 
diff --git a/tests/sys/netinet/Makefile b/tests/sys/netinet/Makefile
index b742342beecb..9739221676ce 100644
--- a/tests/sys/netinet/Makefile
+++ b/tests/sys/netinet/Makefile
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ ATF_TESTS_SH=	arp \
 
 ATF_TESTS_PYTEST+=	carp.py
 ATF_TESTS_PYTEST+=	igmp.py
+ATF_TESTS_PYTEST+=	tcp_hpts_test.py
 
 LIBADD.so_reuseport_lb_test=	pthread
 LIBADD.udp_bindings=		pthread
diff --git a/tests/sys/netinet/tcp_hpts_test.py b/tests/sys/netinet/tcp_hpts_test.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..c56383fb310f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/sys/netinet/tcp_hpts_test.py
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+from atf_python.ktest import BaseKernelTest
+
+class TestTcpHpts(BaseKernelTest):
+    KTEST_MODULE_NAME = "ktest_tcphpts"