if the salt-minion service isnt running when the state is rendered, dont try to apply schedule - https://github.com/Security-Onion-Solutions/securityonion/issues/1333

salt/salt/minion-check.sls

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 include:
   - salt.minion-state-apply-test
-  
+
+{% if salt['service.status']('salt-minion', True) %}
 state-apply-test:
   schedule.present:
     - name: salt-minion-state-apply-test
@@ -16,4 +17,5 @@ state-apply-test:
   cron.present:
     - identifier: so-salt-minion-check
     - user: root
-    - minute: '*/5'
+    - minute: '*/5'
+{% endif %}