diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/ftracetest b/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/ftracetest
index cdf7940b6610a..8ec1922e974eb 100755
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/ftracetest
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/ftracetest
@@ -269,7 +269,8 @@ testcase() { # testfile
 
 checkreq() { # testfile
   requires=`grep "^#[ \t]*requires:" $1 | cut -f2- -d:`
-  check_requires $requires
+  # Use eval to pass quoted-patterns correctly.
+  eval check_requires "$requires"
 }
 
 test_on_instance() { # testfile
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/dynevent/add_remove_kprobe.tc b/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/dynevent/add_remove_kprobe.tc
index 1a8c56b197a8d..68550f97d3c37 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/dynevent/add_remove_kprobe.tc
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/dynevent/add_remove_kprobe.tc
@@ -1,10 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
 # description: Generic dynamic event - add/remove kprobe events
-# requires: dynamic_events
-
-grep -q "place: \[<module>:\]<symbol>" README || exit_unsupported
-grep -q "place (kretprobe): \[<module>:\]<symbol>" README || exit_unsupported
+# requires: dynamic_events "place: [<module>:]<symbol>":README "place (kretprobe): [<module>:]<symbol>":README
 
 echo 0 > events/enable
 echo > dynamic_events
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/dynevent/add_remove_synth.tc b/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/dynevent/add_remove_synth.tc
index f5018b3afb39f..2b94611e1a28d 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/dynevent/add_remove_synth.tc
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/dynevent/add_remove_synth.tc
@@ -1,9 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
 # description: Generic dynamic event - add/remove synthetic events
-# requires: dynamic_events
-
-grep -q "s:\[synthetic/\]" README || exit_unsupported
+# requires: dynamic_events "s:[synthetic/]":README
 
 echo 0 > events/enable
 echo > dynamic_events
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/dynevent/clear_select_events.tc b/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/dynevent/clear_select_events.tc
index e2484445ddecd..c969be9eb7de5 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/dynevent/clear_select_events.tc
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/dynevent/clear_select_events.tc
@@ -1,12 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
 # description: Generic dynamic event - selective clear (compatibility)
-# requires: dynamic_events kprobe_events synthetic_events
-
-grep -q "place: \[<module>:\]<symbol>" README || exit_unsupported
-grep -q "place (kretprobe): \[<module>:\]<symbol>" README || exit_unsupported
-
-grep -q "s:\[synthetic/\]" README || exit_unsupported
+# requires: dynamic_events kprobe_events synthetic_events "place: [<module>:]<symbol>":README "place (kretprobe): [<module>:]<symbol>":README "s:[synthetic/]":README
 
 echo 0 > events/enable
 echo > dynamic_events
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/dynevent/generic_clear_event.tc b/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/dynevent/generic_clear_event.tc
index e56cb60b4e56b..16d543eaac882 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/dynevent/generic_clear_event.tc
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/dynevent/generic_clear_event.tc
@@ -1,12 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
 # description: Generic dynamic event - generic clear event
-# requires: dynamic_events
-
-grep -q "place: \[<module>:\]<symbol>" README || exit_unsupported
-grep -q "place (kretprobe): \[<module>:\]<symbol>" README || exit_unsupported
-
-grep -q "s:\[synthetic/\]" README || exit_unsupported
+# requires: dynamic_events "place: [<module>:]<symbol>":README "place (kretprobe): [<module>:]<symbol>":README "s:[synthetic/]":README
 
 echo 0 > events/enable
 echo > dynamic_events
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/functions b/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/functions
index 35de6bc9613be..c5dec55b7d95d 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/functions
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/functions
@@ -107,13 +107,19 @@ initialize_ftrace() { # Reset ftrace to initial-state
 }
 
 check_requires() { # Check required files and tracers
-    for i in $* ; do
+    for i in "$@" ; do
+        r=${i%:README}
         t=${i%:tracer}
         if [ $t != $i ]; then
             if ! grep -wq $t available_tracers ; then
                 echo "Required tracer $t is not configured."
                 exit_unsupported
             fi
+        elif [ $r != $i ]; then
+            if ! grep -Fq "$r" README ; then
+                echo "Required feature pattern \"$r\" is not in README."
+                exit_unsupported
+            fi
         elif [ ! -e $i ]; then
             echo "Required feature interface $i doesn't exist."
             exit_unsupported
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/kprobe/kprobe_args_syntax.tc b/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/kprobe/kprobe_args_syntax.tc
index f06c1477f00ff..474ca1a9a0885 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/kprobe/kprobe_args_syntax.tc
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/kprobe/kprobe_args_syntax.tc
@@ -1,9 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
 # description: Kprobe event argument syntax
-# requires: kprobe_events
-
-grep "x8/16/32/64" README > /dev/null || exit_unsupported # version issue
+# requires: kprobe_events "x8/16/32/64":README
 
 PROBEFUNC="vfs_read"
 GOODREG=
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/kprobe/kprobe_args_type.tc b/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/kprobe/kprobe_args_type.tc
index d599d6f544d4e..0610e0b5587cf 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/kprobe/kprobe_args_type.tc
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/kprobe/kprobe_args_type.tc
@@ -1,9 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
 # description: Kprobes event arguments with types
-# requires: kprobe_events
-
-grep "x8/16/32/64" README > /dev/null || exit_unsupported # version issue
+# requires: kprobe_events "x8/16/32/64":README
 
 gen_event() { # Bitsize
   echo "p:testprobe _do_fork \$stack0:s$1 \$stack0:u$1 \$stack0:x$1 \$stack0:b4@4/$1"
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/kprobe/kprobe_args_user.tc b/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/kprobe/kprobe_args_user.tc
index a9b3a788183f6..a30a9c07290d0 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/kprobe/kprobe_args_user.tc
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/kprobe/kprobe_args_user.tc
@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
 # description: Kprobe event user-memory access
-# requires: kprobe_events
+# requires: kprobe_events '$arg<N>':README
 
-grep -q '\$arg<N>' README || exit_unsupported # depends on arch
 grep -A10 "fetcharg:" README | grep -q 'ustring' || exit_unsupported
 grep -A10 "fetcharg:" README | grep -q '\[u\]<offset>' || exit_unsupported
 
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/kprobe/kprobe_multiprobe.tc b/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/kprobe/kprobe_multiprobe.tc
index 8205d588bed4f..366b7e1b67183 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/kprobe/kprobe_multiprobe.tc
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/kprobe/kprobe_multiprobe.tc
@@ -1,9 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
 # description: Create/delete multiprobe on kprobe event
-# requires: kprobe_events
-
-grep -q "Create/append/" README || exit_unsupported
+# requires: kprobe_events "Create/append/":README
 
 # Choose 2 symbols for target
 SYM1=_do_fork
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/kprobe/kretprobe_maxactive.tc b/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/kprobe/kretprobe_maxactive.tc
index 0f96a45010d1e..4f0b268c12332 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/kprobe/kretprobe_maxactive.tc
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/kprobe/kretprobe_maxactive.tc
@@ -1,9 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
 # description: Kretprobe dynamic event with maxactive
-# requires: kprobe_events
-
-grep -q 'r\[maxactive\]' README || exit_unsupported # this is older version
+# requires: kprobe_events 'r[maxactive]':README
 
 # Test if we successfully reject unknown messages
 if echo 'a:myprobeaccept inet_csk_accept' > kprobe_events; then false; else true; fi
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/template b/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/template
index b1c2f1920897b..2cd8947edf720 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/template
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/template
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
 # description: %HERE DESCRIBE WHAT THIS DOES%
-# requires: %HERE LIST THE REQUIRED FILES OR TRACERS%
+# requires: %HERE LIST THE REQUIRED FILES, TRACERS OR README-STRINGS%
 # The required tracer needs :tracer suffix, e.g. function:tracer
+# The required README string needs :README suffix, e.g. "x8/16/32/64":README
+# and the README string is treated as a fixed-string instead of regexp pattern.
 # you have to add ".tc" extention for your testcase file
 # Note that all tests are run with "errexit" option.
 
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/trigger/inter-event/trigger-action-hist-xfail.tc b/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/trigger/inter-event/trigger-action-hist-xfail.tc
index 07093bbd9816b..1590d6bfb857b 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/trigger/inter-event/trigger-action-hist-xfail.tc
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/trigger/inter-event/trigger-action-hist-xfail.tc
@@ -1,15 +1,13 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
 # description: event trigger - test inter-event histogram trigger expected fail actions
-# requires: set_event snapshot
+# requires: set_event snapshot "snapshot()":README
 
 fail() { #msg
     echo $1
     exit_fail
 }
 
-grep -q "snapshot()" README || exit_unsupported # version issue
-
 echo "Test expected snapshot action failure"
 
 echo 'hist:keys=comm:onmatch(sched.sched_wakeup).snapshot()' >> events/sched/sched_waking/trigger && exit_fail
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/trigger/inter-event/trigger-onchange-action-hist.tc b/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/trigger/inter-event/trigger-onchange-action-hist.tc
index 2366a8f8f8f28..adaabb873ed4a 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/trigger/inter-event/trigger-onchange-action-hist.tc
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/trigger/inter-event/trigger-onchange-action-hist.tc
@@ -1,15 +1,13 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
 # description: event trigger - test inter-event histogram trigger onchange action
-# requires: set_event
+# requires: set_event "onchange(var)":README
 
 fail() { #msg
     echo $1
     exit_fail
 }
 
-grep -q "onchange(var)" README || exit_unsupported # version issue
-
 echo "Test onchange action"
 
 echo 'hist:keys=comm:newprio=prio:onchange($newprio).save(comm,prio) if comm=="ping"' >> events/sched/sched_waking/trigger
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/trigger/inter-event/trigger-snapshot-action-hist.tc b/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/trigger/inter-event/trigger-snapshot-action-hist.tc
index 2902a897255f7..67fa328b830f5 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/trigger/inter-event/trigger-snapshot-action-hist.tc
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/trigger/inter-event/trigger-snapshot-action-hist.tc
@@ -1,17 +1,13 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
 # description: event trigger - test inter-event histogram trigger snapshot action
-# requires: set_event snapshot events/sched/sched_process_fork/hist
+# requires: set_event snapshot events/sched/sched_process_fork/hist "onchange(var)":README "snapshot()":README
 
 fail() { #msg
     echo $1
     exit_fail
 }
 
-grep -q "onchange(var)" README || exit_unsupported # version issue
-
-grep -q "snapshot()" README || exit_unsupported # version issue
-
 echo "Test snapshot action"
 
 echo 1 > events/sched/enable
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/trigger/inter-event/trigger-trace-action-hist.tc b/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/trigger/inter-event/trigger-trace-action-hist.tc
index e2ef5268b7e9e..c126d2350a6d4 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/trigger/inter-event/trigger-trace-action-hist.tc
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/trigger/inter-event/trigger-trace-action-hist.tc
@@ -1,15 +1,13 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
 # description: event trigger - test inter-event histogram trigger trace action
-# requires: set_event synthetic_events events/sched/sched_process_fork/hist
+# requires: set_event synthetic_events events/sched/sched_process_fork/hist "trace(<synthetic_event>":README
 
 fail() { #msg
     echo $1
     exit_fail
 }
 
-grep -q "trace(<synthetic_event>" README || exit_unsupported # version issue
-
 echo "Test create synthetic event"
 
 echo 'wakeup_latency  u64 lat pid_t pid char comm[16]' > synthetic_events