diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/net/mptcp/mptcp_join.sh b/tools/testing/selftests/net/mptcp/mptcp_join.sh
index a63aed145393..276396cbe60c 100755
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/net/mptcp/mptcp_join.sh
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/net/mptcp/mptcp_join.sh
@@ -500,11 +500,25 @@ wait_local_port_listen()
 	done
 }
 
+# $1: ns ; $2: counter
+get_counter()
+{
+	local ns="${1}"
+	local counter="${2}"
+	local count
+
+	count=$(ip netns exec ${ns} nstat -asz "${counter}" | awk 'NR==1 {next} {print $2}')
+	if [ -z "${count}" ]; then
+		mptcp_lib_fail_if_expected_feature "${counter} counter"
+		return 1
+	fi
+
+	echo "${count}"
+}
+
 rm_addr_count()
 {
-	local ns=${1}
-
-	ip netns exec ${ns} nstat -as | grep MPTcpExtRmAddr | awk '{print $2}'
+	get_counter "${1}" "MPTcpExtRmAddr"
 }
 
 # $1: ns, $2: old rm_addr counter in $ns
@@ -527,11 +541,11 @@ wait_mpj()
 	local ns="${1}"
 	local cnt old_cnt
 
-	old_cnt=$(ip netns exec ${ns} nstat -as | grep MPJoinAckRx | awk '{print $2}')
+	old_cnt=$(get_counter ${ns} "MPTcpExtMPJoinAckRx")
 
 	local i
 	for i in $(seq 10); do
-		cnt=$(ip netns exec ${ns} nstat -as | grep MPJoinAckRx | awk '{print $2}')
+		cnt=$(get_counter ${ns} "MPTcpExtMPJoinAckRx")
 		[ "$cnt" = "${old_cnt}" ] || break
 		sleep 0.1
 	done
@@ -1190,12 +1204,13 @@ chk_csum_nr()
 	fi
 
 	printf "%-${nr_blank}s %s" " " "sum"
-	count=$(ip netns exec $ns1 nstat -as | grep MPTcpExtDataCsumErr | awk '{print $2}')
-	[ -z "$count" ] && count=0
+	count=$(get_counter ${ns1} "MPTcpExtDataCsumErr")
 	if [ "$count" != "$csum_ns1" ]; then
 		extra_msg="$extra_msg ns1=$count"
 	fi
-	if { [ "$count" != $csum_ns1 ] && [ $allow_multi_errors_ns1 -eq 0 ]; } ||
+	if [ -z "$count" ]; then
+		echo -n "[skip]"
+	elif { [ "$count" != $csum_ns1 ] && [ $allow_multi_errors_ns1 -eq 0 ]; } ||
 	   { [ "$count" -lt $csum_ns1 ] && [ $allow_multi_errors_ns1 -eq 1 ]; }; then
 		echo "[fail] got $count data checksum error[s] expected $csum_ns1"
 		fail_test
@@ -1204,12 +1219,13 @@ chk_csum_nr()
 		echo -n "[ ok ]"
 	fi
 	echo -n " - csum  "
-	count=$(ip netns exec $ns2 nstat -as | grep MPTcpExtDataCsumErr | awk '{print $2}')
-	[ -z "$count" ] && count=0
+	count=$(get_counter ${ns2} "MPTcpExtDataCsumErr")
 	if [ "$count" != "$csum_ns2" ]; then
 		extra_msg="$extra_msg ns2=$count"
 	fi
-	if { [ "$count" != $csum_ns2 ] && [ $allow_multi_errors_ns2 -eq 0 ]; } ||
+	if [ -z "$count" ]; then
+		echo -n "[skip]"
+	elif { [ "$count" != $csum_ns2 ] && [ $allow_multi_errors_ns2 -eq 0 ]; } ||
 	   { [ "$count" -lt $csum_ns2 ] && [ $allow_multi_errors_ns2 -eq 1 ]; }; then
 		echo "[fail] got $count data checksum error[s] expected $csum_ns2"
 		fail_test
@@ -1251,12 +1267,13 @@ chk_fail_nr()
 	fi
 
 	printf "%-${nr_blank}s %s" " " "ftx"
-	count=$(ip netns exec $ns_tx nstat -as | grep MPTcpExtMPFailTx | awk '{print $2}')
-	[ -z "$count" ] && count=0
+	count=$(get_counter ${ns_tx} "MPTcpExtMPFailTx")
 	if [ "$count" != "$fail_tx" ]; then
 		extra_msg="$extra_msg,tx=$count"
 	fi
-	if { [ "$count" != "$fail_tx" ] && [ $allow_tx_lost -eq 0 ]; } ||
+	if [ -z "$count" ]; then
+		echo -n "[skip]"
+	elif { [ "$count" != "$fail_tx" ] && [ $allow_tx_lost -eq 0 ]; } ||
 	   { [ "$count" -gt "$fail_tx" ] && [ $allow_tx_lost -eq 1 ]; }; then
 		echo "[fail] got $count MP_FAIL[s] TX expected $fail_tx"
 		fail_test
@@ -1266,12 +1283,13 @@ chk_fail_nr()
 	fi
 
 	echo -n " - failrx"
-	count=$(ip netns exec $ns_rx nstat -as | grep MPTcpExtMPFailRx | awk '{print $2}')
-	[ -z "$count" ] && count=0
+	count=$(get_counter ${ns_rx} "MPTcpExtMPFailRx")
 	if [ "$count" != "$fail_rx" ]; then
 		extra_msg="$extra_msg,rx=$count"
 	fi
-	if { [ "$count" != "$fail_rx" ] && [ $allow_rx_lost -eq 0 ]; } ||
+	if [ -z "$count" ]; then
+		echo -n "[skip]"
+	elif { [ "$count" != "$fail_rx" ] && [ $allow_rx_lost -eq 0 ]; } ||
 	   { [ "$count" -gt "$fail_rx" ] && [ $allow_rx_lost -eq 1 ]; }; then
 		echo "[fail] got $count MP_FAIL[s] RX expected $fail_rx"
 		fail_test
@@ -1303,10 +1321,11 @@ chk_fclose_nr()
 	fi
 
 	printf "%-${nr_blank}s %s" " " "ctx"
-	count=$(ip netns exec $ns_tx nstat -as | grep MPTcpExtMPFastcloseTx | awk '{print $2}')
-	[ -z "$count" ] && count=0
-	[ "$count" != "$fclose_tx" ] && extra_msg="$extra_msg,tx=$count"
-	if [ "$count" != "$fclose_tx" ]; then
+	count=$(get_counter ${ns_tx} "MPTcpExtMPFastcloseTx")
+	if [ -z "$count" ]; then
+		echo -n "[skip]"
+	elif [ "$count" != "$fclose_tx" ]; then
+		extra_msg="$extra_msg,tx=$count"
 		echo "[fail] got $count MP_FASTCLOSE[s] TX expected $fclose_tx"
 		fail_test
 		dump_stats=1
@@ -1315,10 +1334,11 @@ chk_fclose_nr()
 	fi
 
 	echo -n " - fclzrx"
-	count=$(ip netns exec $ns_rx nstat -as | grep MPTcpExtMPFastcloseRx | awk '{print $2}')
-	[ -z "$count" ] && count=0
-	[ "$count" != "$fclose_rx" ] && extra_msg="$extra_msg,rx=$count"
-	if [ "$count" != "$fclose_rx" ]; then
+	count=$(get_counter ${ns_rx} "MPTcpExtMPFastcloseRx")
+	if [ -z "$count" ]; then
+		echo -n "[skip]"
+	elif [ "$count" != "$fclose_rx" ]; then
+		extra_msg="$extra_msg,rx=$count"
 		echo "[fail] got $count MP_FASTCLOSE[s] RX expected $fclose_rx"
 		fail_test
 		dump_stats=1
@@ -1349,9 +1369,10 @@ chk_rst_nr()
 	fi
 
 	printf "%-${nr_blank}s %s" " " "rtx"
-	count=$(ip netns exec $ns_tx nstat -as | grep MPTcpExtMPRstTx | awk '{print $2}')
-	[ -z "$count" ] && count=0
-	if [ $count -lt $rst_tx ]; then
+	count=$(get_counter ${ns_tx} "MPTcpExtMPRstTx")
+	if [ -z "$count" ]; then
+		echo -n "[skip]"
+	elif [ $count -lt $rst_tx ]; then
 		echo "[fail] got $count MP_RST[s] TX expected $rst_tx"
 		fail_test
 		dump_stats=1
@@ -1360,9 +1381,10 @@ chk_rst_nr()
 	fi
 
 	echo -n " - rstrx "
-	count=$(ip netns exec $ns_rx nstat -as | grep MPTcpExtMPRstRx | awk '{print $2}')
-	[ -z "$count" ] && count=0
-	if [ "$count" -lt "$rst_rx" ]; then
+	count=$(get_counter ${ns_rx} "MPTcpExtMPRstRx")
+	if [ -z "$count" ]; then
+		echo -n "[skip]"
+	elif [ "$count" -lt "$rst_rx" ]; then
 		echo "[fail] got $count MP_RST[s] RX expected $rst_rx"
 		fail_test
 		dump_stats=1
@@ -1383,9 +1405,10 @@ chk_infi_nr()
 	local dump_stats
 
 	printf "%-${nr_blank}s %s" " " "itx"
-	count=$(ip netns exec $ns2 nstat -as | grep InfiniteMapTx | awk '{print $2}')
-	[ -z "$count" ] && count=0
-	if [ "$count" != "$infi_tx" ]; then
+	count=$(get_counter ${ns2} "MPTcpExtInfiniteMapTx")
+	if [ -z "$count" ]; then
+		echo -n "[skip]"
+	elif [ "$count" != "$infi_tx" ]; then
 		echo "[fail] got $count infinite map[s] TX expected $infi_tx"
 		fail_test
 		dump_stats=1
@@ -1394,9 +1417,10 @@ chk_infi_nr()
 	fi
 
 	echo -n " - infirx"
-	count=$(ip netns exec $ns1 nstat -as | grep InfiniteMapRx | awk '{print $2}')
-	[ -z "$count" ] && count=0
-	if [ "$count" != "$infi_rx" ]; then
+	count=$(get_counter ${ns1} "MPTcpExtInfiniteMapRx")
+	if [ -z "$count" ]; then
+		echo "[skip]"
+	elif [ "$count" != "$infi_rx" ]; then
 		echo "[fail] got $count infinite map[s] RX expected $infi_rx"
 		fail_test
 		dump_stats=1
@@ -1428,9 +1452,10 @@ chk_join_nr()
 	fi
 
 	printf "%03u %-36s %s" "${TEST_COUNT}" "${title}" "syn"
-	count=$(ip netns exec $ns1 nstat -as | grep MPTcpExtMPJoinSynRx | awk '{print $2}')
-	[ -z "$count" ] && count=0
-	if [ "$count" != "$syn_nr" ]; then
+	count=$(get_counter ${ns1} "MPTcpExtMPJoinSynRx")
+	if [ -z "$count" ]; then
+		echo -n "[skip]"
+	elif [ "$count" != "$syn_nr" ]; then
 		echo "[fail] got $count JOIN[s] syn expected $syn_nr"
 		fail_test
 		dump_stats=1
@@ -1440,9 +1465,10 @@ chk_join_nr()
 
 	echo -n " - synack"
 	with_cookie=$(ip netns exec $ns2 sysctl -n net.ipv4.tcp_syncookies)
-	count=$(ip netns exec $ns2 nstat -as | grep MPTcpExtMPJoinSynAckRx | awk '{print $2}')
-	[ -z "$count" ] && count=0
-	if [ "$count" != "$syn_ack_nr" ]; then
+	count=$(get_counter ${ns2} "MPTcpExtMPJoinSynAckRx")
+	if [ -z "$count" ]; then
+		echo -n "[skip]"
+	elif [ "$count" != "$syn_ack_nr" ]; then
 		# simult connections exceeding the limit with cookie enabled could go up to
 		# synack validation as the conn limit can be enforced reliably only after
 		# the subflow creation
@@ -1458,9 +1484,10 @@ chk_join_nr()
 	fi
 
 	echo -n " - ack"
-	count=$(ip netns exec $ns1 nstat -as | grep MPTcpExtMPJoinAckRx | awk '{print $2}')
-	[ -z "$count" ] && count=0
-	if [ "$count" != "$ack_nr" ]; then
+	count=$(get_counter ${ns1} "MPTcpExtMPJoinAckRx")
+	if [ -z "$count" ]; then
+		echo "[skip]"
+	elif [ "$count" != "$ack_nr" ]; then
 		echo "[fail] got $count JOIN[s] ack expected $ack_nr"
 		fail_test
 		dump_stats=1
@@ -1492,12 +1519,12 @@ chk_stale_nr()
 	local recover_nr
 
 	printf "%-${nr_blank}s %-18s" " " "stale"
-	stale_nr=$(ip netns exec $ns nstat -as | grep MPTcpExtSubflowStale | awk '{print $2}')
-	[ -z "$stale_nr" ] && stale_nr=0
-	recover_nr=$(ip netns exec $ns nstat -as | grep MPTcpExtSubflowRecover | awk '{print $2}')
-	[ -z "$recover_nr" ] && recover_nr=0
 
-	if [ $stale_nr -lt $stale_min ] ||
+	stale_nr=$(get_counter ${ns} "MPTcpExtSubflowStale")
+	recover_nr=$(get_counter ${ns} "MPTcpExtSubflowRecover")
+	if [ -z "$stale_nr" ] || [ -z "$recover_nr" ]; then
+		echo "[skip]"
+	elif [ $stale_nr -lt $stale_min ] ||
 	   { [ $stale_max -gt 0 ] && [ $stale_nr -gt $stale_max ]; } ||
 	   [ $((stale_nr - recover_nr)) -ne $stale_delta ]; then
 		echo "[fail] got $stale_nr stale[s] $recover_nr recover[s], " \
@@ -1533,12 +1560,12 @@ chk_add_nr()
 	timeout=$(ip netns exec $ns1 sysctl -n net.mptcp.add_addr_timeout)
 
 	printf "%-${nr_blank}s %s" " " "add"
-	count=$(ip netns exec $ns2 nstat -as MPTcpExtAddAddr | grep MPTcpExtAddAddr | awk '{print $2}')
-	[ -z "$count" ] && count=0
-
+	count=$(get_counter ${ns2} "MPTcpExtAddAddr")
+	if [ -z "$count" ]; then
+		echo -n "[skip]"
 	# if the test configured a short timeout tolerate greater then expected
 	# add addrs options, due to retransmissions
-	if [ "$count" != "$add_nr" ] && { [ "$timeout" -gt 1 ] || [ "$count" -lt "$add_nr" ]; }; then
+	elif [ "$count" != "$add_nr" ] && { [ "$timeout" -gt 1 ] || [ "$count" -lt "$add_nr" ]; }; then
 		echo "[fail] got $count ADD_ADDR[s] expected $add_nr"
 		fail_test
 		dump_stats=1
@@ -1547,9 +1574,10 @@ chk_add_nr()
 	fi
 
 	echo -n " - echo  "
-	count=$(ip netns exec $ns1 nstat -as | grep MPTcpExtEchoAdd | awk '{print $2}')
-	[ -z "$count" ] && count=0
-	if [ "$count" != "$echo_nr" ]; then
+	count=$(get_counter ${ns1} "MPTcpExtEchoAdd")
+	if [ -z "$count" ]; then
+		echo -n "[skip]"
+	elif [ "$count" != "$echo_nr" ]; then
 		echo "[fail] got $count ADD_ADDR echo[s] expected $echo_nr"
 		fail_test
 		dump_stats=1
@@ -1559,9 +1587,10 @@ chk_add_nr()
 
 	if [ $port_nr -gt 0 ]; then
 		echo -n " - pt "
-		count=$(ip netns exec $ns2 nstat -as | grep MPTcpExtPortAdd | awk '{print $2}')
-		[ -z "$count" ] && count=0
-		if [ "$count" != "$port_nr" ]; then
+		count=$(get_counter ${ns2} "MPTcpExtPortAdd")
+		if [ -z "$count" ]; then
+			echo "[skip]"
+		elif [ "$count" != "$port_nr" ]; then
 			echo "[fail] got $count ADD_ADDR[s] with a port-number expected $port_nr"
 			fail_test
 			dump_stats=1
@@ -1570,10 +1599,10 @@ chk_add_nr()
 		fi
 
 		printf "%-${nr_blank}s %s" " " "syn"
-		count=$(ip netns exec $ns1 nstat -as | grep MPTcpExtMPJoinPortSynRx |
-			awk '{print $2}')
-		[ -z "$count" ] && count=0
-		if [ "$count" != "$syn_nr" ]; then
+		count=$(get_counter ${ns1} "MPTcpExtMPJoinPortSynRx")
+		if [ -z "$count" ]; then
+			echo -n "[skip]"
+		elif [ "$count" != "$syn_nr" ]; then
 			echo "[fail] got $count JOIN[s] syn with a different \
 				port-number expected $syn_nr"
 			fail_test
@@ -1583,10 +1612,10 @@ chk_add_nr()
 		fi
 
 		echo -n " - synack"
-		count=$(ip netns exec $ns2 nstat -as | grep MPTcpExtMPJoinPortSynAckRx |
-			awk '{print $2}')
-		[ -z "$count" ] && count=0
-		if [ "$count" != "$syn_ack_nr" ]; then
+		count=$(get_counter ${ns2} "MPTcpExtMPJoinPortSynAckRx")
+		if [ -z "$count" ]; then
+			echo -n "[skip]"
+		elif [ "$count" != "$syn_ack_nr" ]; then
 			echo "[fail] got $count JOIN[s] synack with a different \
 				port-number expected $syn_ack_nr"
 			fail_test
@@ -1596,10 +1625,10 @@ chk_add_nr()
 		fi
 
 		echo -n " - ack"
-		count=$(ip netns exec $ns1 nstat -as | grep MPTcpExtMPJoinPortAckRx |
-			awk '{print $2}')
-		[ -z "$count" ] && count=0
-		if [ "$count" != "$ack_nr" ]; then
+		count=$(get_counter ${ns1} "MPTcpExtMPJoinPortAckRx")
+		if [ -z "$count" ]; then
+			echo "[skip]"
+		elif [ "$count" != "$ack_nr" ]; then
 			echo "[fail] got $count JOIN[s] ack with a different \
 				port-number expected $ack_nr"
 			fail_test
@@ -1609,10 +1638,10 @@ chk_add_nr()
 		fi
 
 		printf "%-${nr_blank}s %s" " " "syn"
-		count=$(ip netns exec $ns1 nstat -as | grep MPTcpExtMismatchPortSynRx |
-			awk '{print $2}')
-		[ -z "$count" ] && count=0
-		if [ "$count" != "$mis_syn_nr" ]; then
+		count=$(get_counter ${ns1} "MPTcpExtMismatchPortSynRx")
+		if [ -z "$count" ]; then
+			echo -n "[skip]"
+		elif [ "$count" != "$mis_syn_nr" ]; then
 			echo "[fail] got $count JOIN[s] syn with a mismatched \
 				port-number expected $mis_syn_nr"
 			fail_test
@@ -1622,10 +1651,10 @@ chk_add_nr()
 		fi
 
 		echo -n " - ack   "
-		count=$(ip netns exec $ns1 nstat -as | grep MPTcpExtMismatchPortAckRx |
-			awk '{print $2}')
-		[ -z "$count" ] && count=0
-		if [ "$count" != "$mis_ack_nr" ]; then
+		count=$(get_counter ${ns1} "MPTcpExtMismatchPortAckRx")
+		if [ -z "$count" ]; then
+			echo "[skip]"
+		elif [ "$count" != "$mis_ack_nr" ]; then
 			echo "[fail] got $count JOIN[s] ack with a mismatched \
 				port-number expected $mis_ack_nr"
 			fail_test
@@ -1669,9 +1698,10 @@ chk_rm_nr()
 	fi
 
 	printf "%-${nr_blank}s %s" " " "rm "
-	count=$(ip netns exec $addr_ns nstat -as | grep MPTcpExtRmAddr | awk '{print $2}')
-	[ -z "$count" ] && count=0
-	if [ "$count" != "$rm_addr_nr" ]; then
+	count=$(get_counter ${addr_ns} "MPTcpExtRmAddr")
+	if [ -z "$count" ]; then
+		echo -n "[skip]"
+	elif [ "$count" != "$rm_addr_nr" ]; then
 		echo "[fail] got $count RM_ADDR[s] expected $rm_addr_nr"
 		fail_test
 		dump_stats=1
@@ -1680,29 +1710,27 @@ chk_rm_nr()
 	fi
 
 	echo -n " - rmsf  "
-	count=$(ip netns exec $subflow_ns nstat -as | grep MPTcpExtRmSubflow | awk '{print $2}')
-	[ -z "$count" ] && count=0
-	if [ -n "$simult" ]; then
+	count=$(get_counter ${subflow_ns} "MPTcpExtRmSubflow")
+	if [ -z "$count" ]; then
+		echo -n "[skip]"
+	elif [ -n "$simult" ]; then
 		local cnt suffix
 
-		cnt=$(ip netns exec $addr_ns nstat -as | grep MPTcpExtRmSubflow | awk '{print $2}')
+		cnt=$(get_counter ${addr_ns} "MPTcpExtRmSubflow")
 
 		# in case of simult flush, the subflow removal count on each side is
 		# unreliable
-		[ -z "$cnt" ] && cnt=0
 		count=$((count + cnt))
 		[ "$count" != "$rm_subflow_nr" ] && suffix="$count in [$rm_subflow_nr:$((rm_subflow_nr*2))]"
 		if [ $count -ge "$rm_subflow_nr" ] && \
 		   [ "$count" -le "$((rm_subflow_nr *2 ))" ]; then
-			echo "[ ok ] $suffix"
+			echo -n "[ ok ] $suffix"
 		else
 			echo "[fail] got $count RM_SUBFLOW[s] expected in range [$rm_subflow_nr:$((rm_subflow_nr*2))]"
 			fail_test
 			dump_stats=1
 		fi
-		return
-	fi
-	if [ "$count" != "$rm_subflow_nr" ]; then
+	elif [ "$count" != "$rm_subflow_nr" ]; then
 		echo "[fail] got $count RM_SUBFLOW[s] expected $rm_subflow_nr"
 		fail_test
 		dump_stats=1
@@ -1723,9 +1751,10 @@ chk_prio_nr()
 	local dump_stats
 
 	printf "%-${nr_blank}s %s" " " "ptx"
-	count=$(ip netns exec $ns1 nstat -as | grep MPTcpExtMPPrioTx | awk '{print $2}')
-	[ -z "$count" ] && count=0
-	if [ "$count" != "$mp_prio_nr_tx" ]; then
+	count=$(get_counter ${ns1} "MPTcpExtMPPrioTx")
+	if [ -z "$count" ]; then
+		echo -n "[skip]"
+	elif [ "$count" != "$mp_prio_nr_tx" ]; then
 		echo "[fail] got $count MP_PRIO[s] TX expected $mp_prio_nr_tx"
 		fail_test
 		dump_stats=1
@@ -1734,9 +1763,10 @@ chk_prio_nr()
 	fi
 
 	echo -n " - prx   "
-	count=$(ip netns exec $ns1 nstat -as | grep MPTcpExtMPPrioRx | awk '{print $2}')
-	[ -z "$count" ] && count=0
-	if [ "$count" != "$mp_prio_nr_rx" ]; then
+	count=$(get_counter ${ns1} "MPTcpExtMPPrioRx")
+	if [ -z "$count" ]; then
+		echo "[skip]"
+	elif [ "$count" != "$mp_prio_nr_rx" ]; then
 		echo "[fail] got $count MP_PRIO[s] RX expected $mp_prio_nr_rx"
 		fail_test
 		dump_stats=1
@@ -1852,7 +1882,7 @@ wait_attempt_fail()
 	while [ $time -lt $timeout_ms ]; do
 		local cnt
 
-		cnt=$(ip netns exec $ns nstat -as TcpAttemptFails | grep TcpAttemptFails | awk '{print $2}')
+		cnt=$(get_counter ${ns} "TcpAttemptFails")
 
 		[ "$cnt" = 1 ] && return 1
 		time=$((time + 100))