diff --git a/integration-cli/docker_utils.go b/integration-cli/docker_utils.go
index 77f8d8c807..228c45a6ad 100644
--- a/integration-cli/docker_utils.go
+++ b/integration-cli/docker_utils.go
@@ -898,6 +898,7 @@ func readContainerFileWithExec(containerId, filename string) ([]byte, error) {
 }
 
 func setupRegistry(t *testing.T) func() {
+	testRequires(t, RegistryHosting)
 	reg, err := newTestRegistryV2(t)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
diff --git a/integration-cli/requirements.go b/integration-cli/requirements.go
index fe7c51ee74..665cb380d5 100644
--- a/integration-cli/requirements.go
+++ b/integration-cli/requirements.go
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 package main
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
+	"os/exec"
 	"testing"
 )
 
@@ -25,6 +27,16 @@ var (
 		func() bool { return supportsExec },
 		"Test requires 'docker exec' capabilities on the tested daemon.",
 	}
+	RegistryHosting = TestRequirement{
+		func() bool {
+			// for now registry binary is built only if we're running inside
+			// container through `make test`. Figure that out by testing if
+			// registry binary is in PATH.
+			_, err := exec.LookPath(v2binary)
+			return err == nil
+		},
+		fmt.Sprintf("Test requires an environment that can host %s in the same host", v2binary),
+	}
 )
 
 // testRequires checks if the environment satisfies the requirements