diff --git a/salt/utils/reactor.py b/salt/utils/reactor.py
index 4e3d4ced45..16978630ee 100644
--- a/salt/utils/reactor.py
+++ b/salt/utils/reactor.py
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@ import salt.state
 import salt.utils
 import salt.utils.cache
 import salt.utils.event
-from salt.ext.six import string_types
 import salt.utils.process
+from salt.ext.six import string_types
 from salt._compat import string_types
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ class Reactor(multiprocessing.Process, salt.state.Compiler):
     def __init__(self, opts):
         multiprocessing.Process.__init__(self)
         salt.state.Compiler.__init__(self, opts)
-        self.wrap = ReactWrap(self.opts)
 
         local_minion_opts = self.opts.copy()
         local_minion_opts['file_client'] = 'local'
@@ -86,7 +85,7 @@ class Reactor(multiprocessing.Process, salt.state.Compiler):
                 continue
             if len(ropt) != 1:
                 continue
-            key = next(iter(ropt.keys()))
+            key = ropt.iterkeys().next()
             val = ropt[key]
             if fnmatch.fnmatch(tag, key):
                 if isinstance(val, string_types):
@@ -107,7 +106,9 @@ class Reactor(multiprocessing.Process, salt.state.Compiler):
         if high:
             errors = self.verify_high(high)
             if errors:
-                return errors
+                log.error(('Unable to render reactions for event {0} due to '
+                           'errors ({1}) in one or more of the sls files ({2})').format(tag, errors, reactors))
+                return []  # We'll return nothing since there was an error
             chunks = self.order_chunks(self.compile_high_data(high))
         return chunks
 
@@ -123,10 +124,12 @@ class Reactor(multiprocessing.Process, salt.state.Compiler):
         Enter into the server loop
         '''
         salt.utils.appendproctitle(self.__class__.__name__)
+
+        # instantiate some classes inside our new process
         self.event = salt.utils.event.SaltEvent('master', self.opts['sock_dir'])
-        events = self.event.iter_events(full=True)
-        self.event.fire_event({}, 'salt/reactor/start')
-        for data in events:
+        self.wrap = ReactWrap(self.opts)
+
+        for data in self.event.iter_events(full=True):
             reactors = self.list_reactors(data['tag'])
             if not reactors:
                 continue
@@ -147,6 +150,11 @@ class ReactWrap(object):
         if ReactWrap.client_cache is None:
             ReactWrap.client_cache = salt.utils.cache.CacheDict(opts['reactor_refresh_interval'])
 
+        self.pool = salt.utils.process.ThreadPool(
+            self.opts['reactor_worker_threads'],  # number of workers for runner/wheel
+            queue_size=self.opts['reactor_worker_hwm']  # queue size for those workers
+        )
+
     def run(self, low):
         '''
         Execute the specified function in the specified state by passing the
@@ -155,14 +163,12 @@ class ReactWrap(object):
         l_fun = getattr(self, low['state'])
         try:
             f_call = salt.utils.format_call(l_fun, low)
-            ret = l_fun(*f_call.get('args', ()), **f_call.get('kwargs', {}))
+            l_fun(*f_call.get('args', ()), **f_call.get('kwargs', {}))
         except Exception:
             log.error(
                     'Failed to execute {0}: {1}\n'.format(low['state'], l_fun),
                     exc_info=True
                     )
-            return False
-        return ret
 
     def local(self, *args, **kwargs):
         '''
@@ -170,7 +176,7 @@ class ReactWrap(object):
         '''
         if 'local' not in self.client_cache:
             self.client_cache['local'] = salt.client.LocalClient(self.opts['conf_file'])
-        return self.client_cache['local'].cmd_async(*args, **kwargs)
+        self.client_cache['local'].cmd_async(*args, **kwargs)
 
     cmd = local
 
@@ -180,7 +186,7 @@ class ReactWrap(object):
         '''
         if 'runner' not in self.client_cache:
             self.client_cache['runner'] = salt.runner.RunnerClient(self.opts)
-        return self.client_cache['runner'].async(fun, kwargs, fire_event=False)
+        self.pool.fire_async(self.client_cache['runner'].low, args=(fun, kwargs))
 
     def wheel(self, fun, **kwargs):
         '''
@@ -188,4 +194,4 @@ class ReactWrap(object):
         '''
         if 'wheel' not in self.client_cache:
             self.client_cache['wheel'] = salt.wheel.Wheel(self.opts)
-        return self.client_cache['wheel'].async(fun, kwargs, fire_event=False)
+        self.pool.fire_async(self.client_cache['wheel'].low, args=(fun, kwargs))