diff --git a/salt/client/ssh/ssh_py_shim.py b/salt/client/ssh/ssh_py_shim.py
index e13d72d039..64161f8a4a 100644
--- a/salt/client/ssh/ssh_py_shim.py
+++ b/salt/client/ssh/ssh_py_shim.py
@@ -157,7 +157,10 @@ def unpack_thin(thin_path):
     tfile.extractall(path=OPTIONS.saltdir)
     tfile.close()
     os.umask(old_umask)
-    os.unlink(thin_path)
+    try:
+        os.unlink(thin_path)
+    except OSError:
+        pass
 
 
 def need_ext():
diff --git a/salt/utils/thin.py b/salt/utils/thin.py
index 95f14dd9d1..71a66a903b 100644
--- a/salt/utils/thin.py
+++ b/salt/utils/thin.py
@@ -534,6 +534,7 @@ def gen_min(cachedir, extra_mods='', overwrite=False, so_mods='',
         'salt/modules/test.py',
         'salt/modules/selinux.py',
         'salt/modules/cmdmod.py',
+        'salt/modules/saltutil.py',
         'salt/minion.py',
         'salt/pillar',
         'salt/pillar/__init__.py',
diff --git a/tests/integration/files/file/base/running.sls b/tests/integration/files/file/base/running.sls
index c89113eff1..177662eaf6 100644
--- a/tests/integration/files/file/base/running.sls
+++ b/tests/integration/files/file/base/running.sls
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 sleep_running:
   module.run:
     - name: test.sleep
-    - length: 10
+    - length: 20
diff --git a/tests/integration/ssh/test_state.py b/tests/integration/ssh/test_state.py
index d57bb72d92..45bdee27aa 100644
--- a/tests/integration/ssh/test_state.py
+++ b/tests/integration/ssh/test_state.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 from __future__ import absolute_import
 import os
 import shutil
+import threading
 import time
 
 # Import Salt Testing Libs
@@ -13,6 +14,7 @@ from tests.support.unit import skipIf
 
 # Import Salt Libs
 from salt.ext import six
+from salt.ext.six.moves import range  # pylint: disable=redefined-builtin
 
 SSH_SLS = 'ssh_state_tests'
 SSH_SLS_FILE = '/tmp/test'
@@ -166,19 +168,34 @@ class SSHStateTest(SSHCase):
         '''
         test state.running with salt-ssh
         '''
-        start_sls = self.run_function('state.sls', ['running', '&'],
-                                      wipe=False)
-        time.sleep(8)
-        get_sls = self.run_function('state.running', wipe=False)
-        ret = 'The function "state.pkg" is running as'
-        self.assertIn(ret, ' '.join(get_sls))
+        def _run_in_background():
+            self.run_function('state.sls', ['running'], wipe=False)
+
+        bg_thread = threading.Thread(target=_run_in_background)
+        bg_thread.start()
+
+        expected = 'The function "state.pkg" is running as'
+        for _ in range(3):
+            time.sleep(5)
+            get_sls = self.run_function('state.running', wipe=False)
+            try:
+                self.assertIn(expected, ' '.join(get_sls))
+            except AssertionError:
+                pass
+            else:
+                # We found the expected return
+                break
+        else:
+            self.fail(
+                'Did not find \'{0}\' in state.running return'.format(expected)
+            )
 
         # make sure we wait until the earlier state is complete
         future = time.time() + 120
         while True:
             if time.time() > future:
                 break
-            if ret not in ' '.join(self.run_function('state.running', wipe=False)):
+            if expected not in ' '.join(self.run_function('state.running', wipe=False)):
                 break
 
     def tearDown(self):