diff --git a/salt/common/files/soversion b/salt/common/files/soversion
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..194749710
--- /dev/null
+++ b/salt/common/files/soversion
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+{%- set VERSION = salt['pillar.get']('global:soversion') -%}
+{{ VERSION }}
diff --git a/salt/common/init.sls b/salt/common/init.sls
index 012fcdc9b..33a8b9984 100644
--- a/salt/common/init.sls
+++ b/salt/common/init.sls
@@ -278,6 +278,14 @@ backupdir:
     - daymonth: '*'
     - month: '*'
     - dayweek: '*'
+{% else %}
+soversionfile:
+  file.managed:
+    - name: /etc/soversion
+    - source: salt://common/files/soversion
+    - mode: 644
+    - template: jinja
+    
 {% endif %}
 
 # Manager daemon.json