diff --git a/salt/pcap/init.sls b/salt/pcap/init.sls
index 6679215e4..a64b9d90a 100644
--- a/salt/pcap/init.sls
+++ b/salt/pcap/init.sls
@@ -111,6 +111,7 @@ stenolog:
 
 so-steno:
   docker_container.{{ STENOOPTIONS.status }}:
+  {% if STENOOPTIONS.status == 'running' %}
     - image: {{ MANAGER }}:5000/{{ IMAGEREPO }}/so-steno:{{ VERSION }}
     - start: {{ STENOOPTIONS.start }}
     - network_mode: host
@@ -126,6 +127,9 @@ so-steno:
       - /opt/so/log/stenographer:/var/log/stenographer:rw
     - watch:
       - file: /opt/so/conf/steno/config
+  {% else %} {# if stenographer isn't enabled, then stop and remove the container #}
+    - force: True
+  {% endif %}
 
 append_so-steno_so-status.conf:
   file.append:
@@ -133,7 +137,6 @@ append_so-steno_so-status.conf:
     - text: so-steno
     - unless: grep -q so-steno /opt/so/conf/so-status/so-status.conf
 
-
   {% if not STENOOPTIONS.start %}
 so-steno_so-status.disabled:
   file.comment:
@@ -152,4 +155,4 @@ delete_so-steno_so-status.disabled:
   test.fail_without_changes:
     - name: {{sls}}_state_not_allowed
 
-{% endif %}
\ No newline at end of file
+{% endif %}
diff --git a/salt/pcap/map.jinja b/salt/pcap/map.jinja
index b3c746bcc..ad23f763b 100644
--- a/salt/pcap/map.jinja
+++ b/salt/pcap/map.jinja
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 {% endif %}
 
 {% if ENABLED is sameas false %}
-  {% do STENOOPTIONS.update({'status': 'stopped'}) %}
+  {% do STENOOPTIONS.update({'status': 'absent'}) %}
 {% else %}
   {% do STENOOPTIONS.update({'status': 'running'}) %}
-{% endif %}
\ No newline at end of file
+{% endif %}