diff --git a/cmd/zpool/zpool_main.c b/cmd/zpool/zpool_main.c
index 61403a173c..3607656e0d 100644
--- a/cmd/zpool/zpool_main.c
+++ b/cmd/zpool/zpool_main.c
@@ -1113,13 +1113,18 @@ zpool_do_labelclear(int argc, char **argv)
 		return (1);
 	}
 
-	if (ioctl(fd, BLKFLSBUF) != 0)
+	/*
+	 * Flush all dirty pages for the block device.  This should not be
+	 * fatal when the device does not support BLKFLSBUF as would be the
+	 * case for a file vdev.
+	 */
+	if ((ioctl(fd, BLKFLSBUF) != 0) && (errno != ENOTTY))
 		(void) fprintf(stderr, gettext("failed to invalidate "
 		    "cache for %s: %s\n"), vdev, strerror(errno));
 
-	if (zpool_read_label(fd, &config, NULL) != 0 || config == NULL) {
+	if (zpool_read_label(fd, &config, NULL) != 0) {
 		(void) fprintf(stderr,
-		    gettext("failed to check state for %s\n"), vdev);
+		    gettext("failed to read label from %s\n"), vdev);
 		ret = 1;
 		goto errout;
 	}
diff --git a/lib/libzfs/libzfs_import.c b/lib/libzfs/libzfs_import.c
index 44a46d1cea..3d7a0bf12a 100644
--- a/lib/libzfs/libzfs_import.c
+++ b/lib/libzfs/libzfs_import.c
@@ -148,23 +148,66 @@ zpool_clear_label(int fd)
 	int l;
 	vdev_label_t *label;
 	uint64_t size;
+	int labels_cleared = 0;
 
 	if (fstat64_blk(fd, &statbuf) == -1)
 		return (0);
+
 	size = P2ALIGN_TYPED(statbuf.st_size, sizeof (vdev_label_t), uint64_t);
 
 	if ((label = calloc(1, sizeof (vdev_label_t))) == NULL)
 		return (-1);
 
 	for (l = 0; l < VDEV_LABELS; l++) {
-		if (pwrite64(fd, label, sizeof (vdev_label_t),
+		uint64_t state, guid;
+		nvlist_t *config;
+
+		if (pread64(fd, label, sizeof (vdev_label_t),
 		    label_offset(size, l)) != sizeof (vdev_label_t)) {
-			free(label);
-			return (-1);
+			continue;
+		}
+
+		if (nvlist_unpack(label->vl_vdev_phys.vp_nvlist,
+		    sizeof (label->vl_vdev_phys.vp_nvlist), &config, 0) != 0) {
+			continue;
+		}
+
+		/* Skip labels which do not have a valid guid. */
+		if (nvlist_lookup_uint64(config, ZPOOL_CONFIG_GUID,
+		    &guid) != 0 || guid == 0) {
+			nvlist_free(config);
+			continue;
+		}
+
+		/* Skip labels which are not in a known valid state. */
+		if (nvlist_lookup_uint64(config, ZPOOL_CONFIG_POOL_STATE,
+		    &state) != 0 || state > POOL_STATE_L2CACHE) {
+			nvlist_free(config);
+			continue;
+		}
+
+		nvlist_free(config);
+
+		/*
+		 * A valid label was found, overwrite this label's nvlist
+		 * and uberblocks with zeros on disk.  This is done to prevent
+		 * system utilities, like blkid, from incorrectly detecting a
+		 * partial label.  The leading pad space is left untouched.
+		 */
+		memset(label, 0, sizeof (vdev_label_t));
+		size_t label_size = sizeof (vdev_label_t) - (2 * VDEV_PAD_SIZE);
+
+		if (pwrite64(fd, label, label_size, label_offset(size, l) +
+		    (2 * VDEV_PAD_SIZE)) == label_size) {
+			labels_cleared++;
 		}
 	}
 
 	free(label);
+
+	if (labels_cleared == 0)
+		return (-1);
+
 	return (0);
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/runfiles/linux.run b/tests/runfiles/linux.run
index 93f0c03aac..9537798a92 100644
--- a/tests/runfiles/linux.run
+++ b/tests/runfiles/linux.run
@@ -392,7 +392,8 @@ tests = ['zpool_import_001_pos', 'zpool_import_002_pos',
 tags = ['functional', 'cli_root', 'zpool_import']
 
 [tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_labelclear]
-tests = ['zpool_labelclear_active', 'zpool_labelclear_exported']
+tests = ['zpool_labelclear_active', 'zpool_labelclear_exported',
+    'zpool_labelclear_removed', 'zpool_labelclear_valid']
 pre =
 post =
 tags = ['functional', 'cli_root', 'zpool_labelclear']
diff --git a/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_attach/attach-o_ashift.ksh b/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_attach/attach-o_ashift.ksh
index 58ab57db05..fd33fb9506 100755
--- a/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_attach/attach-o_ashift.ksh
+++ b/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_attach/attach-o_ashift.ksh
@@ -51,8 +51,8 @@ log_onexit cleanup
 
 disk1=$TEST_BASE_DIR/$FILEDISK0
 disk2=$TEST_BASE_DIR/$FILEDISK1
-log_must mkfile $SIZE $disk1
-log_must mkfile $SIZE $disk2
+log_must truncate -s $SIZE $disk1
+log_must truncate -s $SIZE $disk2
 
 typeset ashifts=("9" "10" "11" "12" "13" "14" "15" "16")
 for ashift in ${ashifts[@]}
@@ -84,13 +84,7 @@ do
 		# clean things for the next run
 		log_must zpool destroy $TESTPOOL1
 		log_must zpool labelclear $disk1
-		# depending on if we expect to have failed the 'zpool attach'
-		if [[ $cmdval -le $ashift ]]
-		then
-			log_must zpool labelclear $disk2
-		else
-			log_mustnot zpool labelclear $disk2
-		fi
+		log_must zpool labelclear $disk2
 	done
 done
 
diff --git a/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_labelclear/Makefile.am b/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_labelclear/Makefile.am
index dc4a0277c6..c258f0c929 100644
--- a/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_labelclear/Makefile.am
+++ b/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_labelclear/Makefile.am
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 pkgdatadir = $(datadir)/@PACKAGE@/zfs-tests/tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_labelclear
 dist_pkgdata_SCRIPTS = \
 	zpool_labelclear_active.ksh \
-	zpool_labelclear_exported.ksh
+	zpool_labelclear_exported.ksh \
+	zpool_labelclear_removed.ksh \
+	zpool_labelclear_valid.ksh
 
 dist_pkgdata_DATA = \
 	labelclear.cfg
diff --git a/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_labelclear/labelclear.cfg b/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_labelclear/labelclear.cfg
index 8bf0382703..85148d6e85 100644
--- a/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_labelclear/labelclear.cfg
+++ b/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_labelclear/labelclear.cfg
@@ -15,9 +15,6 @@
 
 . $STF_SUITE/include/libtest.shlib
 
-typeset LABELCLEAR="zpool labelclear"
-typeset LABELREAD="zdb -lq"
-
 typeset disks=(${DISKS[*]})
 typeset disk1=${disks[0]}
 typeset disk2=${disks[1]}
diff --git a/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_labelclear/zpool_labelclear_active.ksh b/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_labelclear/zpool_labelclear_active.ksh
index 8a30d1a422..dcca2e9335 100755
--- a/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_labelclear/zpool_labelclear_active.ksh
+++ b/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_labelclear/zpool_labelclear_active.ksh
@@ -43,26 +43,26 @@ log_assert "zpool labelclear will fail on all vdevs of imported pool"
 log_must zpool create -O mountpoint=none -f $TESTPOOL $disk1 log $disk2
 
 # Check that labelclear [-f] will fail on ACTIVE pool vdevs
-log_mustnot $LABELCLEAR $disk1
-log_must $LABELREAD $disk1
-log_mustnot $LABELCLEAR -f $disk1
-log_must $LABELREAD $disk1
-log_mustnot $LABELCLEAR $disk2
-log_must $LABELREAD $disk2
-log_mustnot $LABELCLEAR -f $disk2
-log_must $LABELREAD $disk2
+log_mustnot zpool labelclear $disk1
+log_must zdb -lq $disk1
+log_mustnot zpool labelclear -f $disk1
+log_must zdb -lq $disk1
+log_mustnot zpool labelclear $disk2
+log_must zdb -lq $disk2
+log_mustnot zpool labelclear -f $disk2
+log_must zdb -lq $disk2
 
 # Add a cache/spare to the pool, check that labelclear [-f] will fail
 # on the vdev and will succeed once it's removed from pool config
 for vdevtype in "cache" "spare"; do
 	log_must zpool add $TESTPOOL $vdevtype $disk3
-	log_mustnot $LABELCLEAR $disk3
-	log_must $LABELREAD $disk3
-	log_mustnot $LABELCLEAR -f $disk3
-	log_must $LABELREAD $disk3
+	log_mustnot zpool labelclear $disk3
+	log_must zdb -lq $disk3
+	log_mustnot zpool labelclear -f $disk3
+	log_must zdb -lq $disk3
 	log_must zpool remove $TESTPOOL $disk3
-	log_must $LABELCLEAR $disk3
-	log_mustnot $LABELREAD $disk3
+	log_must zpool labelclear $disk3
+	log_mustnot zdb -lq $disk3
 done
 
 log_pass "zpool labelclear will fail on all vdevs of imported pool"
diff --git a/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_labelclear/zpool_labelclear_exported.ksh b/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_labelclear/zpool_labelclear_exported.ksh
index 98385c9b71..a5131bdbb7 100755
--- a/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_labelclear/zpool_labelclear_exported.ksh
+++ b/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_labelclear/zpool_labelclear_exported.ksh
@@ -52,21 +52,21 @@ for vdevtype in "" "cache" "spare"; do
 	log_must zpool export $TESTPOOL
 
 	# Check that labelclear will fail without -f
-	log_mustnot $LABELCLEAR $disk1
-	log_must $LABELREAD $disk1
-	log_mustnot $LABELCLEAR $disk2
-	log_must $LABELREAD $disk2
+	log_mustnot zpool labelclear $disk1
+	log_must zdb -lq $disk1
+	log_mustnot zpool labelclear $disk2
+	log_must zdb -lq $disk2
 
 	# Check that labelclear will succeed with -f
-	log_must $LABELCLEAR -f $disk1
-	log_mustnot $LABELREAD $disk1
-	log_must $LABELCLEAR -f $disk2
-	log_mustnot $LABELREAD $disk2
+	log_must zpool labelclear -f $disk1
+	log_mustnot zdb -lq $disk1
+	log_must zpool labelclear -f $disk2
+	log_mustnot zdb -lq $disk2
 
 	# Check that labelclear on auxilary vdevs will succeed
 	if [[ -n $vdevtype ]]; then
-		log_must $LABELCLEAR $disk3
-		log_mustnot $LABELREAD $disk3
+		log_must zpool labelclear $disk3
+		log_mustnot zdb -lq $disk3
 	fi
 done
 
diff --git a/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_labelclear/zpool_labelclear_removed.ksh b/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_labelclear/zpool_labelclear_removed.ksh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..f93de6e224
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_labelclear/zpool_labelclear_removed.ksh
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+#!/bin/ksh -p
+#
+# This file and its contents are supplied under the terms of the
+# Common Development and Distribution License ("CDDL"), version 1.0.
+# You may only use this file in accordance with the terms of version
+# 1.0 of the CDDL.
+#
+# A full copy of the text of the CDDL should have accompanied this
+# source.  A copy of the CDDL is also available via the Internet at
+# http://www.illumos.org/license/CDDL.
+#
+
+#
+# Copyright 2016 Nexenta Systems, Inc.
+# Copyright (c) 2019 by Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC.
+#
+
+. $STF_SUITE/tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_labelclear/labelclear.cfg
+
+# DESCRIPTION:
+#    Check that `zpool labelclear` can clear labels on removed devices.
+#
+# STRATEGY:
+# 1. Create a pool with primary, log, spare and cache devices.
+# 2. Remove a top-level vdev, log, spare, and cache device.
+# 3. Run `zpool labelclear` on the removed device.
+# 4. Verify the label has been removed.
+#
+
+verify_runnable "global"
+
+function cleanup
+{
+	poolexists $TESTPOOL && destroy_pool $TESTPOOL
+	rm -f $DEVICE1 $DEVICE2 $DEVICE3 $DEVICE4 $DEVICE5
+}
+
+log_onexit cleanup
+log_assert "zpool labelclear works for removed devices"
+
+DEVICE1="$TEST_BASE_DIR/device-1"
+DEVICE2="$TEST_BASE_DIR/device-2"
+DEVICE3="$TEST_BASE_DIR/device-3"
+DEVICE4="$TEST_BASE_DIR/device-4"
+DEVICE5="$TEST_BASE_DIR/device-5"
+
+log_must truncate -s $((SPA_MINDEVSIZE * 8)) $DEVICE1
+log_must truncate -s $SPA_MINDEVSIZE $DEVICE2 $DEVICE3 $DEVICE4 $DEVICE5
+
+log_must zpool create -f $TESTPOOL $DEVICE1 $DEVICE2 \
+    log $DEVICE3 cache $DEVICE4 spare $DEVICE5
+log_must zpool sync
+
+# Remove each type of vdev and verify the label can be cleared.
+for dev in $DEVICE5 $DEVICE4 $DEVICE3 $DEVICE2; do
+	log_must zpool remove $TESTPOOL $dev
+	log_must zpool sync $TESTPOOL
+	log_must zpool labelclear $dev
+	log_mustnot zdb -lq $dev
+done
+
+log_pass "zpool labelclear works for removed devices"
diff --git a/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_labelclear/zpool_labelclear_valid.ksh b/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_labelclear/zpool_labelclear_valid.ksh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..211829d512
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_labelclear/zpool_labelclear_valid.ksh
@@ -0,0 +1,91 @@
+#!/bin/ksh -p
+#
+# This file and its contents are supplied under the terms of the
+# Common Development and Distribution License ("CDDL"), version 1.0.
+# You may only use this file in accordance with the terms of version
+# 1.0 of the CDDL.
+#
+# A full copy of the text of the CDDL should have accompanied this
+# source.  A copy of the CDDL is also available via the Internet at
+# http://www.illumos.org/license/CDDL.
+#
+
+#
+# Copyright 2016 Nexenta Systems, Inc.
+# Copyright (c) 2019 by Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC.
+#
+
+. $STF_SUITE/tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_labelclear/labelclear.cfg
+
+# DESCRIPTION:
+#    Check that `zpool labelclear` only clears valid labels.  Expected
+#    label offsets which do not contain intact labels are left untouched.
+#
+# STRATEGY:
+# 1. Create a pool with primary, log, spare and cache devices.
+# 2. Export the pool.
+# 3. Write a known pattern over the first two device labels.
+# 4. Verify with zdb that only the last two device labels are intact.
+# 5. Verify the pool could be imported using those labels.
+# 6. Run `zpool labelclear` to destroy those last two labels.
+# 7. Verify the pool can no longer be found; let alone imported.
+# 8. Verify the pattern is intact to confirm `zpool labelclear` did
+#    not write to first two label offsets.
+# 9. Verify that no valid label remain.
+#
+
+verify_runnable "global"
+
+function cleanup
+{
+	poolexists $TESTPOOL && destroy_pool $TESTPOOL
+	rm -f $PATTERN_FILE $DEVICE1 $DEVICE2 $DEVICE3 $DEVICE4
+}
+
+log_onexit cleanup
+log_assert "zpool labelclear will only clear valid labels"
+
+PATTERN_FILE=$TEST_BASE_DIR/pattern
+
+DEVICE1="$TEST_BASE_DIR/device-1"
+DEVICE2="$TEST_BASE_DIR/device-2"
+DEVICE3="$TEST_BASE_DIR/device-3"
+DEVICE4="$TEST_BASE_DIR/device-4"
+
+log_must dd if=/dev/urandom of=$PATTERN_FILE bs=1048576 count=4
+
+log_must truncate -s $SPA_MINDEVSIZE $DEVICE1 $DEVICE2 $DEVICE3 $DEVICE4
+
+log_must zpool create -O mountpoint=none -f $TESTPOOL $DEVICE1 \
+     log $DEVICE2 cache $DEVICE3 spare $DEVICE4
+log_must zpool export $TESTPOOL
+
+# Overwrite the first 4M of each device and verify the expected labels.
+for dev in $DEVICE1 $DEVICE2 $DEVICE3 $DEVICE4; do
+	dd if=$PATTERN_FILE of=$dev bs=1048576 conv=notrunc
+	log_must eval "zdb -l $dev | grep 'labels = 2 3'"
+done
+
+# Verify the pool could be imported using those labels.
+log_must eval "zpool import -d $TEST_BASE_DIR | grep $TESTPOOL"
+
+# Verify the last two labels on each vdev can be cleared.
+for dev in $DEVICE1 $DEVICE2 $DEVICE3 $DEVICE4; do
+	log_must zpool labelclear -f $dev
+done
+
+# Verify there is no longer a pool which can be imported.
+log_mustnot eval "zpool import -d $TEST_BASE_DIR | grep $TESTPOOL"
+
+# Verify the original pattern over the first two labels is intact
+for dev in $DEVICE1 $DEVICE2 $DEVICE3 $DEVICE4; do
+	log_must cmp -n $((4 * 1048576)) $dev $PATTERN_FILE
+	log_mustnot zdb -lq $dev
+done
+
+# Verify an error is reported when there are no labels to clear.
+for dev in $DEVICE1 $DEVICE2 $DEVICE3 $DEVICE4; do
+	log_mustnot zpool labelclear -f $dev
+done
+
+log_pass "zpool labelclear will only clear valid labels"
diff --git a/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_replace/replace-o_ashift.ksh b/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_replace/replace-o_ashift.ksh
index 77f85c6bea..ae415487c7 100755
--- a/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_replace/replace-o_ashift.ksh
+++ b/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_replace/replace-o_ashift.ksh
@@ -51,8 +51,8 @@ log_onexit cleanup
 
 disk1=$TEST_BASE_DIR/$FILEDISK0
 disk2=$TEST_BASE_DIR/$FILEDISK1
-log_must mkfile $SIZE $disk1
-log_must mkfile $SIZE $disk2
+log_must truncate -s $SIZE $disk1
+log_must truncate -s $SIZE $disk2
 
 typeset ashifts=("9" "10" "11" "12" "13" "14" "15" "16")
 for ashift in ${ashifts[@]}
@@ -84,15 +84,8 @@ do
 		fi
 		# clean things for the next run
 		log_must zpool destroy $TESTPOOL1
-		# depending on if we expect to have failed the 'zpool replace'
-		if [[ $cmdval -le $ashift ]]
-		then
-			log_mustnot zpool labelclear $disk1
-			log_must zpool labelclear $disk2
-		else
-			log_must zpool labelclear $disk1
-			log_mustnot zpool labelclear $disk2
-		fi
+		log_must zpool labelclear $disk1
+		log_must zpool labelclear $disk2
 	done
 done
 
diff --git a/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_replace/replace_prop_ashift.ksh b/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_replace/replace_prop_ashift.ksh
index 714f1180f5..e740de133a 100755
--- a/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_replace/replace_prop_ashift.ksh
+++ b/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_replace/replace_prop_ashift.ksh
@@ -52,8 +52,8 @@ log_onexit cleanup
 
 disk1=$TEST_BASE_DIR/$FILEDISK0
 disk2=$TEST_BASE_DIR/$FILEDISK1
-log_must mkfile $SIZE $disk1
-log_must mkfile $SIZE $disk2
+log_must truncate -s $SIZE $disk1
+log_must truncate -s $SIZE $disk2
 
 typeset ashifts=("9" "10" "11" "12" "13" "14" "15" "16")
 for ashift in ${ashifts[@]}
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ do
 		fi
 		# clean things for the next run
 		log_must zpool destroy $TESTPOOL1
-		log_mustnot zpool labelclear $disk1
+		log_must zpool labelclear $disk1
 		log_must zpool labelclear $disk2
 	done
 done