diff --git a/integration-cli/docker_cli_links_test.go b/integration-cli/docker_cli_links_test.go
index 651e96f8cc..652db3280e 100644
--- a/integration-cli/docker_cli_links_test.go
+++ b/integration-cli/docker_cli_links_test.go
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ func TestLinksNotStartedParentNotFail(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestLinksHostsFilesInject(t *testing.T) {
-	testRequires(t, SameHostDaemon)
+	testRequires(t, SameHostDaemon, ExecSupport)
 
 	defer deleteAllContainers()
 
@@ -251,12 +251,12 @@ func TestLinksHostsFilesInject(t *testing.T) {
 
 	time.Sleep(1 * time.Second)
 
-	contentOne, err := readContainerFile(idOne, "hosts")
+	contentOne, err := readContainerFileWithExec(idOne, "/etc/hosts")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err, string(contentOne))
 	}
 
-	contentTwo, err := readContainerFile(idTwo, "hosts")
+	contentTwo, err := readContainerFileWithExec(idTwo, "/etc/hosts")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err, string(contentTwo))
 	}
@@ -285,7 +285,7 @@ func TestLinksNetworkHostContainer(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestLinksUpdateOnRestart(t *testing.T) {
-	testRequires(t, SameHostDaemon)
+	testRequires(t, SameHostDaemon, ExecSupport)
 
 	defer deleteAllContainers()
 
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ func TestLinksUpdateOnRestart(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	content, err := readContainerFile(id, "hosts")
+	content, err := readContainerFileWithExec(id, "/etc/hosts")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err, string(content))
 	}
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@ func TestLinksUpdateOnRestart(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	content, err = readContainerFile(id, "hosts")
+	content, err = readContainerFileWithExec(id, "/etc/hosts")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err, string(content))
 	}
diff --git a/integration-cli/docker_utils.go b/integration-cli/docker_utils.go
index 56283952ca..2c4518fa14 100644
--- a/integration-cli/docker_utils.go
+++ b/integration-cli/docker_utils.go
@@ -895,6 +895,11 @@ func readContainerFile(containerId, filename string) ([]byte, error) {
 	return content, nil
 }
 
+func readContainerFileWithExec(containerId, filename string) ([]byte, error) {
+	out, _, err := runCommandWithOutput(exec.Command(dockerBinary, "exec", containerId, "cat", filename))
+	return []byte(out), err
+}
+
 func setupRegistry(t *testing.T) func() {
 	reg, err := newTestRegistryV2(t)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/integration-cli/requirements.go b/integration-cli/requirements.go
index 783e982067..fe7c51ee74 100644
--- a/integration-cli/requirements.go
+++ b/integration-cli/requirements.go
@@ -21,6 +21,10 @@ var (
 		func() bool { return isUnixCli },
 		"Test requires posix utilities or functionality to run.",
 	}
+	ExecSupport = TestRequirement{
+		func() bool { return supportsExec },
+		"Test requires 'docker exec' capabilities on the tested daemon.",
+	}
 )
 
 // testRequires checks if the environment satisfies the requirements
diff --git a/integration-cli/test_vars_exec.go b/integration-cli/test_vars_exec.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7633b346ba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/integration-cli/test_vars_exec.go
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+// +build !test_no_exec
+
+package main
+
+const (
+	// indicates docker daemon tested supports 'docker exec'
+	supportsExec = true
+)
diff --git a/integration-cli/test_vars_noexec.go b/integration-cli/test_vars_noexec.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0845090524
--- /dev/null
+++ b/integration-cli/test_vars_noexec.go
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+// +build test_no_exec
+
+package main
+
+const (
+	// indicates docker daemon tested supports 'docker exec'
+	supportsExec = false
+)