diff --git a/salt/modules/pip.py b/salt/modules/pip.py
index efde22fddf..b5090c92bc 100644
--- a/salt/modules/pip.py
+++ b/salt/modules/pip.py
@@ -1101,7 +1101,7 @@ def version(bin_env=None):
     '''
     pip_bin = _get_pip_bin(bin_env)
 
-    output = __salt__['cmd.run'](
+    output = __salt__['cmd.run_stdout'](
         '{0} --version'.format(pip_bin), python_shell=False)
     try:
         return re.match(r'^pip (\S+)', output).group(1)