diff --git a/salt/common/tools/sbin/soup b/salt/common/tools/sbin/soup
index d1d3f5e6e..6c4af361b 100755
--- a/salt/common/tools/sbin/soup
+++ b/salt/common/tools/sbin/soup
@@ -651,7 +651,7 @@ 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 2>/dev/null)
+  [[ -f /etc/sohotfix ]] && CURRENTHOTFIX=$(cat /etc/sohotfix)
   if [ "$INSTALLEDVERSION" == "$NEWVERSION" ]; then
     echo "Checking to see if there are hotfixes needed"
     if [ "$HOTFIXVERSION" == "$CURRENTHOTFIX" ]; then