diff --git a/include/sys/fs/zfs.h b/include/sys/fs/zfs.h
index d9b6e7654b0..4c4d15f8ce0 100644
--- a/include/sys/fs/zfs.h
+++ b/include/sys/fs/zfs.h
@@ -363,6 +363,7 @@ typedef enum {
 /* Small enough to not hog a whole line of printout in zpool(8). */
 #define	ZPROP_MAX_COMMENT	32
 #define	ZPROP_BOOLEAN_NA	2
+#define	ZPROP_BOOLEAN_INHERIT	2
 
 #define	ZPROP_VALUE		"value"
 #define	ZPROP_SOURCE		"source"
diff --git a/man/man7/vdevprops.7 b/man/man7/vdevprops.7
index 5f5e10723c1..da38acafeee 100644
--- a/man/man7/vdevprops.7
+++ b/man/man7/vdevprops.7
@@ -183,9 +183,12 @@ output.
 A text comment up to 8192 characters long
 .It Sy bootsize
 The amount of space to reserve for the EFI system partition
-.It Sy failfast
+.It Sy failfast Ns = Ns Sy inherit Ns | Ns Sy on Ns | Ns Sy off
 If this device should propagate BIO errors back to ZFS, used to disable
 failfast.
+.Sy inherit
+causes the vdev to adopt the behavior of its parent vdev,
+recursively up the tree.
 .It Sy sit_out
 Only valid for
 .Sy RAIDZ
diff --git a/module/os/linux/zfs/vdev_disk.c b/module/os/linux/zfs/vdev_disk.c
index 66e10584ab5..7cc19fe5afb 100644
--- a/module/os/linux/zfs/vdev_disk.c
+++ b/module/os/linux/zfs/vdev_disk.c
@@ -931,8 +931,14 @@ vdev_disk_io_rw(zio_t *zio)
 		return (SET_ERROR(EIO));
 	}
 
+	vdev_t *iter = v;
+	while (iter != NULL && iter->vdev_failfast == ZPROP_BOOLEAN_INHERIT)
+		iter = iter->vdev_parent;
+
+	boolean_t failfast = iter ? iter->vdev_failfast == 1 :
+	    vdev_prop_default_numeric(VDEV_PROP_FAILFAST);
 	if (!(zio->io_flags & (ZIO_FLAG_IO_RETRY | ZIO_FLAG_TRYHARD)) &&
-	    v->vdev_failfast == B_TRUE) {
+	    failfast) {
 		bio_set_flags_failfast(bdev, &flags, zfs_vdev_failfast_mask & 1,
 		    zfs_vdev_failfast_mask & 2, zfs_vdev_failfast_mask & 4);
 	}
diff --git a/module/zcommon/zpool_prop.c b/module/zcommon/zpool_prop.c
index 13a1390d1e1..ccd9f3854f5 100644
--- a/module/zcommon/zpool_prop.c
+++ b/module/zcommon/zpool_prop.c
@@ -374,10 +374,16 @@ vdev_prop_init(void)
 		{ "on",		1},
 		{ NULL }
 	};
+	static const zprop_index_t boolean_inherit_table[] = {
+		{ "off",	0},
+		{ "on",		1},
+		{ "inherit",	ZPROP_BOOLEAN_INHERIT},
+		{ NULL }
+	};
 	static const zprop_index_t boolean_na_table[] = {
 		{ "off",	0},
 		{ "on",		1},
-		{ "-",		2},	/* ZPROP_BOOLEAN_NA */
+		{ "-",		ZPROP_BOOLEAN_NA},
 		{ NULL }
 	};
 
@@ -555,8 +561,8 @@ vdev_prop_init(void)
 
 	/* default index properties */
 	zprop_register_index(VDEV_PROP_FAILFAST, "failfast", B_TRUE,
-	    PROP_DEFAULT, ZFS_TYPE_VDEV, "on | off", "FAILFAST", boolean_table,
-	    sfeatures);
+	    PROP_DEFAULT, ZFS_TYPE_VDEV, "on | off | inherit", "FAILFAST",
+	    boolean_inherit_table, sfeatures);
 	zprop_register_index(VDEV_PROP_SLOW_IO_EVENTS, "slow_io_events",
 	    B_TRUE, PROP_DEFAULT, ZFS_TYPE_VDEV, "on | off",
 	    "SLOW_IO_EVENTS", boolean_table, sfeatures);
diff --git a/module/zfs/vdev.c b/module/zfs/vdev.c
index 9f083cd510f..e4dc9e97af7 100644
--- a/module/zfs/vdev.c
+++ b/module/zfs/vdev.c
@@ -1117,6 +1117,11 @@ vdev_alloc(spa_t *spa, vdev_t **vdp, nvlist_t *nv, vdev_t *parent, uint_t id,
 	if (top_level && (ops == &vdev_raidz_ops || ops == &vdev_draid_ops))
 		vd->vdev_autosit =
 		    vdev_prop_default_numeric(VDEV_PROP_AUTOSIT);
+	if (ops == &vdev_root_ops)
+		vd->vdev_failfast =
+		    vdev_prop_default_numeric(VDEV_PROP_FAILFAST);
+	else
+		vd->vdev_failfast = ZPROP_BOOLEAN_INHERIT;
 
 	/*
 	 * Add ourselves to the parent's list of children.
@@ -3912,10 +3917,9 @@ vdev_load(vdev_t *vd)
 		    vdev_prop_to_name(VDEV_PROP_FAILFAST), sizeof (failfast),
 		    1, &failfast);
 		if (error == 0) {
-			vd->vdev_failfast = failfast & 1;
+			vd->vdev_failfast = failfast;
 		} else if (error == ENOENT) {
-			vd->vdev_failfast = vdev_prop_default_numeric(
-			    VDEV_PROP_FAILFAST);
+			vd->vdev_failfast = ZPROP_BOOLEAN_INHERIT;
 		} else {
 			vdev_dbgmsg(vd,
 			    "vdev_load: zap_lookup(top_zap=%llu) "
@@ -6230,11 +6234,14 @@ vdev_prop_set(vdev_t *vd, nvlist_t *innvl, nvlist_t *outnvl)
 				error = spa_vdev_alloc(spa, vdev_guid);
 			break;
 		case VDEV_PROP_FAILFAST:
-			if (nvpair_value_uint64(elem, &intval) != 0) {
+			if (nvpair_value_uint64(elem, &intval) != 0 ||
+			    intval > ZPROP_BOOLEAN_INHERIT ||
+			    (intval == ZPROP_BOOLEAN_INHERIT &&
+			    vd->vdev_ops == &vdev_root_ops)) {
 				error = EINVAL;
 				break;
 			}
-			vd->vdev_failfast = intval & 1;
+			vd->vdev_failfast = intval;
 			break;
 		case VDEV_PROP_SIT_OUT:
 			/* Only expose this for a draid or raidz leaf */
@@ -6764,18 +6771,23 @@ vdev_prop_get(vdev_t *vd, nvlist_t *innvl, nvlist_t *outnvl)
 				break;
 			case VDEV_PROP_FAILFAST:
 				src = ZPROP_SRC_LOCAL;
-				strval = NULL;
 
 				err = zap_lookup(mos, objid, nvpair_name(elem),
 				    sizeof (uint64_t), 1, &intval);
 				if (err == ENOENT) {
-					intval = vdev_prop_default_numeric(
-					    prop);
+					if (vd->vdev_ops == &vdev_root_ops)
+						intval =
+						    vdev_prop_default_numeric(
+						    prop);
+					else
+						intval = ZPROP_BOOLEAN_INHERIT;
 					err = 0;
 				} else if (err) {
 					break;
 				}
-				if (intval == vdev_prop_default_numeric(prop))
+				if (intval == ZPROP_BOOLEAN_INHERIT ||
+				    (vd->vdev_ops == &vdev_root_ops &&
+				    intval == 1))
 					src = ZPROP_SRC_DEFAULT;
 
 				vdev_prop_add_list(outnvl, propname, strval,
diff --git a/tests/runfiles/common.run b/tests/runfiles/common.run
index 003e1c35495..82a2d1e815e 100644
--- a/tests/runfiles/common.run
+++ b/tests/runfiles/common.run
@@ -573,8 +573,8 @@ tags = ['functional', 'cli_root', 'zpool_scrub']
 
 [tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_set]
 tests = ['zpool_set_001_pos', 'zpool_set_002_neg', 'zpool_set_003_neg',
-    'zpool_set_ashift', 'zpool_set_features', 'vdev_set_001_pos',
-    'user_property_001_pos', 'user_property_002_neg',
+    'zpool_set_ashift', 'zpool_set_features', 'zpool_set_inherit',
+    'vdev_set_001_pos', 'user_property_001_pos', 'user_property_002_neg',
     'zpool_set_clear_userprop','vdev_set_scheduler']
 tags = ['functional', 'cli_root', 'zpool_set']
 
diff --git a/tests/runfiles/sanity.run b/tests/runfiles/sanity.run
index 936f2bcc32b..d62f8f3fb16 100644
--- a/tests/runfiles/sanity.run
+++ b/tests/runfiles/sanity.run
@@ -353,7 +353,7 @@ tags = ['functional', 'cli_root', 'zpool_scrub']
 
 [tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_set]
 tests = ['zpool_set_001_pos', 'zpool_set_002_neg', 'zpool_set_003_neg',
-    'zpool_set_ashift', 'zpool_set_features']
+    'zpool_set_ashift', 'zpool_set_features', 'zpool_set_inherit']
 tags = ['functional', 'cli_root', 'zpool_set']
 
 [tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_split]
diff --git a/tests/zfs-tests/tests/Makefile.am b/tests/zfs-tests/tests/Makefile.am
index 75b53c6ddd0..85f00f28b0f 100644
--- a/tests/zfs-tests/tests/Makefile.am
+++ b/tests/zfs-tests/tests/Makefile.am
@@ -1303,6 +1303,7 @@ nobase_dist_datadir_zfs_tests_tests_SCRIPTS += \
 	functional/cli_root/zpool_set/zpool_set_002_neg.ksh \
 	functional/cli_root/zpool_set/zpool_set_003_neg.ksh \
 	functional/cli_root/zpool_set/zpool_set_ashift.ksh \
+	functional/cli_root/zpool_set/zpool_set_inherit.ksh \
 	functional/cli_root/zpool_set/user_property_001_pos.ksh \
 	functional/cli_root/zpool_set/user_property_002_neg.ksh \
 	functional/cli_root/zpool_set/zpool_set_features.ksh \
diff --git a/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_set/zpool_set_inherit.ksh b/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_set/zpool_set_inherit.ksh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000000..2694e3278d9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_set/zpool_set_inherit.ksh
@@ -0,0 +1,115 @@
+#!/bin/ksh -p
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: CDDL-1.0
+#
+# CDDL HEADER START
+#
+# The contents of this file are subject to the terms of the
+# Common Development and Distribution License (the "License").
+# You may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+#
+# You can obtain a copy of the license at usr/src/OPENSOLARIS.LICENSE
+# or https://opensource.org/licenses/CDDL-1.0.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions
+# and limitations under the License.
+#
+# When distributing Covered Code, include this CDDL HEADER in each
+# file and include the License file at usr/src/OPENSOLARIS.LICENSE.
+# If applicable, add the following below this CDDL HEADER, with the
+# fields enclosed by brackets "[]" replaced with your own identifying
+# information: Portions Copyright [yyyy] [name of copyright owner]
+#
+# CDDL HEADER END
+#
+
+#
+# Copyright 2026, Klara, Inc. All rights reserved.
+#
+
+. $STF_SUITE/include/libtest.shlib
+
+#
+# DESCRIPTION:
+#
+# zpool set can set the failfast property to 'inherit'
+#
+# STRATEGY:
+# 1. Create a pool
+# 2. Verify that we can set 'failfast' to various values, including inherit
+# 3. Verify that the root vdev cannot be set to inherit
+#
+
+verify_runnable "global"
+
+function cleanup
+{
+	destroy_pool $TESTPOOL1
+	rm -f $FILEVDEV1 $FILEVDEV2 $FILEVDEV3
+}
+
+function get_failfast
+{
+	zpool get -H -o value failfast $TESTPOOL1 $@
+}
+
+log_onexit cleanup
+
+log_assert "zpool set can configure 'failfast' property to inherit"
+FILEVDEV1="$TEST_BASE_DIR/zpool_set_inherit1.$$.dat"
+FILEVDEV2="$TEST_BASE_DIR/zpool_set_inherit2.$$.dat"
+FILEVDEV3="$TEST_BASE_DIR/zpool_set_inherit3.$$.dat"
+
+log_must truncate -s $MINVDEVSIZE $FILEVDEV1
+log_must truncate -s $MINVDEVSIZE $FILEVDEV2
+log_must truncate -s $MINVDEVSIZE $FILEVDEV3
+
+log_must zpool create -f $TESTPOOL1 $FILEVDEV1 mirror $FILEVDEV2 $FILEVDEV3
+failfast=$(get_failfast $FILEVDEV1)
+[[ "$failfast" == "inherit" ]] || log_fail "incorrect failfast value: $failfast"
+
+log_must zpool set failfast=on $TESTPOOL1 $FILEVDEV1
+failfast=$(get_failfast $FILEVDEV1)
+[[ "$failfast" == "on" ]] || log_fail "incorrect failfast value: $failfast"
+
+log_must zpool set failfast=off $TESTPOOL1 $FILEVDEV1
+failfast=$(get_failfast $FILEVDEV1)
+[[ "$failfast" == "off" ]] || log_fail "incorrect failfast value: $failfast"
+
+log_must zpool set failfast=inherit $TESTPOOL1 $FILEVDEV1
+
+failfast=$(get_failfast $FILEVDEV2)
+[[ "$failfast" == "inherit" ]] || log_fail "incorrect failfast value: $failfast"
+
+log_must zpool set failfast=on $TESTPOOL1 $FILEVDEV2
+failfast=$(get_failfast $FILEVDEV2)
+[[ "$failfast" == "on" ]] || log_fail "incorrect failfast value: $failfast"
+
+log_must zpool set failfast=off $TESTPOOL1 $FILEVDEV2
+failfast=$(get_failfast $FILEVDEV2)
+[[ "$failfast" == "off" ]] || log_fail "incorrect failfast value: $failfast"
+
+log_must zpool set failfast=inherit $TESTPOOL1 $FILEVDEV2
+
+failfast=$(get_failfast mirror-1)
+[[ "$failfast" == "inherit" ]] || log_fail "incorrect failfast value: $failfast"
+
+log_must zpool set failfast=on $TESTPOOL1 mirror-1
+failfast=$(get_failfast mirror-1)
+[[ "$failfast" == "on" ]] || log_fail "incorrect failfast value: $failfast"
+
+log_must zpool set failfast=off $TESTPOOL1 mirror-1
+failfast=$(get_failfast mirror-1)
+[[ "$failfast" == "off" ]] || log_fail "incorrect failfast value: $failfast"
+
+log_must zpool set failfast=inherit $TESTPOOL1 mirror-1
+
+failfast=$(get_failfast root)
+[[ "$failfast" == "on" ]] || log_fail "incorrect failfast value: $failfast"
+
+log_must zpool set failfast=off $TESTPOOL1 root
+failfast=$(get_failfast root)
+[[ "$failfast" == "off" ]] || log_fail "incorrect failfast value: $failfast"
+
+log_mustnot zpool set failfast=inherit $TESTPOOL1 root
+
+
+log_pass "zpool set can configure 'failfast' property to inherit"