diff --git a/salt/common/tools/sbin/so-common b/salt/common/tools/sbin/so-common
index 5f5cc8575..a7677a754 100755
--- a/salt/common/tools/sbin/so-common
+++ b/salt/common/tools/sbin/so-common
@@ -259,7 +259,9 @@ lookup_salt_value() {
 		group=${group}:
 	fi
 
-	if [[ "$local" != "--local" ]] || [[ "$local" != "local" ]]; then
+	if [[ "$local" == "--local" ]] || [[ "$local" == "local" ]]; then
+		local="--local"
+	else
 		local=""
 	fi