diff --git a/salt/modules/saltutil.py b/salt/modules/saltutil.py
index 56e578aec2..2e3cd202e3 100644
--- a/salt/modules/saltutil.py
+++ b/salt/modules/saltutil.py
@@ -419,7 +419,7 @@ def refresh_pillar():
     '''
     try:
         ret = __salt__['event.fire']({}, 'pillar_refresh')
-    except:
+    except KeyError:
         log.error('Event module not available. Module refresh failed.')
         ret = False  # Effectively a no-op, since we can't really return without an event system
     return ret
@@ -437,7 +437,7 @@ def refresh_modules():
     '''
     try:
         ret = __salt__['event.fire']({}, 'module_refresh')
-    except:
+    except KeyError:
         log.error('Event module not available. Module refresh failed.')
         ret = False  # Effectively a no-op, since we can't really return without an event system
     return ret