diff --git a/salt/config.py b/salt/config.py
index 1328143183..812d545858 100644
--- a/salt/config.py
+++ b/salt/config.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import re
 import socket
 import logging
 import urlparse
+import warnings
 
 # import third party libs
 import yaml
@@ -25,6 +26,11 @@ import salt.utils
 import salt.utils.network
 import salt.pillar
 
+# check_dns warnings filter to force deprecation warning exhibition once
+warnings.filterwarnings(
+    'once', '(.*)check_dns(.*)', DeprecationWarning, __name__
+)
+
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 _DFLT_LOG_DATEFMT = '%H:%M:%S'
@@ -531,10 +537,25 @@ def prepend_root_dir(opts, path_options):
 def minion_config(path,
                   env_var='SALT_MINION_CONFIG',
                   defaults=None,
-                  **kwargs):
+                  check_dns=None):
     '''
     Reads in the minion configuration file and sets up special options
     '''
+    if check_dns is not None:
+        # All use of the `check_dns` arg was removed in `598d715`. The keyword
+        # argument was then removed in `9d893e4` and `**kwargs` was then added
+        # in `5d60f77` in order not to break backwards compatibility.
+        #
+        # Showing a deprecation for 0.17.0 and 0.18.0 should be enough for any
+        # api calls to be updated in order to stop it's use.
+        #
+        # XXX: Remove deprecation warning message on 0.19.0
+        warnings.warn(
+            'The functionality behind the \'check_dns\' keyword argument is '
+            'no longer required, as such, it became unnecessary and is now '
+            'deprecated. \'check_dns\' will be removed in salt > 0.18.0',
+            DeprecationWarning
+        )
     if defaults is None:
         defaults = DEFAULT_MINION_OPTS
 
@@ -672,10 +693,26 @@ def get_id():
     return 'localhost', False
 
 
-def apply_minion_config(overrides=None, defaults=None, **kwargs):
+def apply_minion_config(overrides=None, defaults=None, check_dns=None):
     '''
     Returns minion configurations dict.
     '''
+    if check_dns is not None:
+        # All use of the `check_dns` arg was removed in `598d715`. The keyword
+        # argument was then removed in `9d893e4` and `**kwargs` was then added
+        # in `5d60f77` in order not to break backwards compatibility.
+        #
+        # Showing a deprecation for 0.17.0 and 0.18.0 should be enough for any
+        # api calls to be updated in order to stop it's use.
+        #
+        # XXX: Remove deprecation warning message on 0.19.0
+        warnings.warn(
+            'The functionality behind the \'check_dns\' keyword argument is '
+            'no longer required, as such, it became unnecessary and is now '
+            'deprecated. \'check_dns\' will be removed in salt > 0.18.0',
+            DeprecationWarning
+        )
+
     if defaults is None:
         defaults = DEFAULT_MINION_OPTS
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/config_test.py b/tests/unit/config_test.py
index b38e31dcab..f2a7c2d717 100644
--- a/tests/unit/config_test.py
+++ b/tests/unit/config_test.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 import os
 import shutil
 import tempfile
+import warnings
 
 # Import Salt Testing libs
 from salttesting import TestCase
@@ -23,7 +24,7 @@ ensure_in_syspath('../')
 import salt.minion
 import salt.utils
 import integration
-from salt import config as sconfig
+from salt import config as sconfig, version as salt_version
 
 
 class ConfigTestCase(TestCase):
@@ -295,6 +296,60 @@ class ConfigTestCase(TestCase):
         self.assertEquals(syndic_opts['_master_conf_file'], minion_config_path)
         self.assertEquals(syndic_opts['_minion_conf_file'], syndic_conf_path)
 
+    def test_check_dns_deprecation_warning(self):
+        if salt_version.__version_info__ >= (0, 19):
+            raise AssertionError(
+                'Failing this test on purpose! Please delete this test case, '
+                'the \'check_dns\' keyword argument and the deprecation '
+                'warnings in `salt.config.minion_config` and '
+                'salt.config.apply_minion_config`'
+            )
+
+        # Let's force the warning to always be thrown
+        warnings.resetwarnings()
+        warnings.filterwarnings(
+            'always', '(.*)check_dns(.*)', DeprecationWarning, 'salt.config'
+        )
+        with warnings.catch_warnings(record=True) as w:
+            sconfig.minion_config(None, None, check_dns=True)
+            self.assertEqual(
+                'The functionality behind the \'check_dns\' keyword argument '
+                'is no longer required, as such, it became unnecessary and is '
+                'now deprecated. \'check_dns\' will be removed in salt > '
+                '0.18.0', str(w[-1].message)
+            )
+
+        with warnings.catch_warnings(record=True) as w:
+            sconfig.apply_minion_config(
+                overrides=None, defaults=None, check_dns=True
+            )
+            self.assertEqual(
+                'The functionality behind the \'check_dns\' keyword argument '
+                'is no longer required, as such, it became unnecessary and is '
+                'now deprecated. \'check_dns\' will be removed in salt > '
+                '0.18.0', str(w[-1].message)
+            )
+
+        with warnings.catch_warnings(record=True) as w:
+            sconfig.minion_config(None, None, check_dns=False)
+            self.assertEqual(
+                'The functionality behind the \'check_dns\' keyword argument '
+                'is no longer required, as such, it became unnecessary and is '
+                'now deprecated. \'check_dns\' will be removed in salt > '
+                '0.18.0', str(w[-1].message)
+            )
+
+        with warnings.catch_warnings(record=True) as w:
+            sconfig.apply_minion_config(
+                overrides=None, defaults=None, check_dns=False
+            )
+            self.assertEqual(
+                'The functionality behind the \'check_dns\' keyword argument '
+                'is no longer required, as such, it became unnecessary and is '
+                'now deprecated. \'check_dns\' will be removed in salt > '
+                '0.18.0', str(w[-1].message)
+            )
+
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     from integration import run_tests