diff --git a/salt/manager/tools/sbin/soup b/salt/manager/tools/sbin/soup
index d0b8f4b22..0b4136065 100755
--- a/salt/manager/tools/sbin/soup
+++ b/salt/manager/tools/sbin/soup
@@ -569,6 +569,9 @@ upgrade_check() {
   # Let's make sure we actually need to update.
   NEWVERSION=$(cat $UPDATE_DIR/VERSION)
   HOTFIXVERSION=$(cat $UPDATE_DIR/HOTFIX)
+  if [ ! -f /etc/sohotfix ]; then
+    touch /etc/sohotfix
+  fi
   [[ -f /etc/sohotfix ]] && CURRENTHOTFIX=$(cat /etc/sohotfix)
   if [ "$INSTALLEDVERSION" == "$NEWVERSION" ]; then
     echo "Checking to see if there are hotfixes needed"