diff --git a/salt/common/tools/sbin/so-status b/salt/common/tools/sbin/so-status
index 17bf50523..0aff7a5a2 100755
--- a/salt/common/tools/sbin/so-status
+++ b/salt/common/tools/sbin/so-status
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ parse_status() {
     
     # if a highstate has not run since system start time, but a highstate is currently running
     # then show that the containers are STARTING
-    elif [ $HIGHSTATE_RUNNING -eq 0 ]; then
+    elif [[ "$HIGHSTATE_RUNNING" == 0 ]]; then
         printf $STARTING_STRING && return 0
 
     # if a highstate has not finished running since system startup and isn't currently running