--- lib/blkid/probe.c
+++ lib/blkid/probe.c
@@ -796,7 +796,8 @@
 	 */
 try_again:
 	type = 0;
-	if (!dev->bid_type || !strcmp(dev->bid_type, "mdraid")) {
+	if ((!dev->bid_type || !strcmp(dev->bid_type, "mdraid")) &&
+	     getenv( "BLKID_SKIP_CHECK_MDRAID")==NULL ) {
 		uuid_t	uuid;
 
 		if (check_mdraid(probe.fd, uuid) == 0) {