diff --git a/src/watchmaker/managers/base.py b/src/watchmaker/managers/base.py
index e4e293d7e..ad62b33ed 100644
--- a/src/watchmaker/managers/base.py
+++ b/src/watchmaker/managers/base.py
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ def _pipe_logger(pipe, logger, prefix_msg='', return_output=False):
 
         return ret or None
 
-    def call_process(self, cmd, stdout=False):
+    def call_process(self, cmd, stdout=False, raise_error=True):
         """
         Execute a shell command.
 
@@ -234,6 +234,11 @@ def call_process(self, cmd, stdout=False):
                 Switch to control whether to return stdout.
                 (*Default*: ``False``)
 
+            raise_error: (:obj:`bool`)
+                Switch to control whether to raise if the command return code
+                is non-zero.
+                (*Default*: ``True``)
+
         Returns:
             :obj:`None` or :obj:`bytes`:
                 ``None`` unless ``stdout`` is ``True``. In that case, the
@@ -275,7 +280,7 @@ def call_process(self, cmd, stdout=False):
 
         returncode = process.wait()
 
-        if returncode != 0:
+        if raise_error and returncode != 0:
             msg = 'Command failed! Exit code={0}, cmd={1}'.format(
                 process.returncode, cmd)
             self.log.critical(msg)
diff --git a/src/watchmaker/workers/salt.py b/src/watchmaker/workers/salt.py
index 3a502c045..b2b54d892 100644
--- a/src/watchmaker/workers/salt.py
+++ b/src/watchmaker/workers/salt.py
@@ -6,11 +6,13 @@
 import codecs
 import json
 import os
+import re
 import shutil
 
 import yaml
 
 from watchmaker import static
+from watchmaker.exceptions import WatchmakerException
 from watchmaker.managers.base import LinuxManager, ManagerBase, WindowsManager
 
 
@@ -138,7 +140,7 @@ def _prepare_for_install(self):
         self.salt_state_args = [
             '--log-file', self.salt_debug_logfile,
             '--log-file-level', 'debug',
-            '--state-output', 'mixed_id'
+            '--state_verbose', 'false'
         ]
 
         for salt_dir in [
@@ -240,7 +242,7 @@ def _set_grain(self, grain, value):
         ]
         self.run_salt(cmd)
 
-    def run_salt(self, command, stdout=False):
+    def run_salt(self, command, **kwargs):
         """
         Execute salt command.
 
@@ -250,10 +252,6 @@ def run_salt(self, command, stdout=False):
                 Watchmaker will always begin the command with the options
                 ``--local``, ``--retcode-passthrough``, and ``--no-color``, so
                 do not specify those options in the command.
-
-            stdout: (:obj:`bool`)
-                Switch to control whether to return stdout.
-                (*Default*: ``False``)
         """
         cmd = [
             self.salt_call,
@@ -265,9 +263,8 @@ def run_salt(self, command, stdout=False):
             cmd.extend(command)
         else:
             cmd.append(command)
-        ret = self.call_process(cmd, stdout=stdout)
-        if stdout:
-            return ret
+
+        return self.call_process(cmd, **kwargs)
 
     def service_status(self, service):
         """
@@ -435,7 +432,14 @@ def process_states(self, states):
                 )
                 cmd.extend(['state.sls', states])
 
-            ret = self.run_salt(cmd, stdout=True)
+            ret = self.run_salt(cmd, stdout=True, raise_error=False)
+
+            if ret['retcode'] != 0:
+                raise WatchmakerException(
+                    'Salt states failed to apply!{0}{1}'
+                    .format(os.linesep, ret['stdout'])
+                )
+
             self.log.info('Salt states all applied successfully!')