diff --git a/salt/common/tools/sbin/soup b/salt/common/tools/sbin/soup
index e1bda105d..8e7f70517 100755
--- a/salt/common/tools/sbin/soup
+++ b/salt/common/tools/sbin/soup
@@ -569,7 +569,7 @@ upgrade_check() {
   # Let's make sure we actually need to update.
   NEWVERSION=$(cat $UPDATE_DIR/VERSION)
   HOTFIXVERSION=$(cat $UPDATE_DIR/HOTFIX)
-  CURRENTHOTFIX=$(cat /etc/sohotfix)
+  CURRENTHOTFIX=$(cat /etc/sohotfix 2>/dev/null)
   if [ "$INSTALLEDVERSION" == "$NEWVERSION" ]; then
     echo "Checking to see if there are hotfixes needed"
     if [ "$HOTFIXVERSION" == "$CURRENTHOTFIX" ]; then