diff --git a/setup/so-functions b/setup/so-functions
index a37867b5a..c1f61a768 100755
--- a/setup/so-functions
+++ b/setup/so-functions
@@ -175,10 +175,8 @@ __check_so_status() {
 }
 
 __check_salt_master() {
-	local salt_master_status
-	salt_master_status=$($sshcmd -i /root/.ssh/so.key soremote@"$MSRV" systemctl is-active --quiet salt-master)
-	[[ -z $salt_master_status ]] && salt_master_status=1
-	return $salt_master_status
+	$sshcmd -i /root/.ssh/so.key soremote@"$MSRV" systemctl is-active --quiet salt-master
+	return $?
 }
 
 check_network_manager_conf() {