diff --git a/backend/meta/xattr.go b/backend/meta/xattr.go
index 692b3c19..b09fa363 100644
--- a/backend/meta/xattr.go
+++ b/backend/meta/xattr.go
@@ -26,10 +26,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/versity/versitygw/s3err"
 )
 
-const (
-	xattrPrefix = "user."
-)
-
 var (
 	// ErrNoSuchKey is returned when the key does not exist.
 	ErrNoSuchKey = errors.New("no such key")
diff --git a/backend/meta/xattr_freebsd.go b/backend/meta/xattr_freebsd.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..bbca083b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/meta/xattr_freebsd.go
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+// Copyright 2026 Versity Software
+// This file is licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0
+// (the "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance
+// with the License.  You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//   http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing,
+// software distributed under the License is distributed on an
+// "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY
+// KIND, either express or implied.  See the License for the
+// specific language governing permissions and limitations
+// under the License.
+
+//go:build freebsd
+
+package meta
+
+const xattrPrefix = ""
diff --git a/backend/meta/xattr_other.go b/backend/meta/xattr_other.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6cfeea26
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/meta/xattr_other.go
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+// Copyright 2026 Versity Software
+// This file is licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0
+// (the "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance
+// with the License.  You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//   http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing,
+// software distributed under the License is distributed on an
+// "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY
+// KIND, either express or implied.  See the License for the
+// specific language governing permissions and limitations
+// under the License.
+
+//go:build !freebsd
+
+package meta
+
+const xattrPrefix = "user."