diff --git a/scullery.py b/scullery.py
index 3c19048..2ccaef3 100755
--- a/scullery.py
+++ b/scullery.py
@@ -141,11 +141,21 @@ def vagrant_sshconfig(outfile):
     with open(outfile, 'w') as fh:
         fh.write(ssh_config)
 
-def runapply(state, target):
+def _saltcmd(target):
     if target == 'local':
         saltcmd = 'salt-call --local'
     else:
-        saltcmd = 'salt {}'.format(target)
+        saltcmd = 'salt -t10 {}'.format(target)
+    return saltcmd
+
+def runping(target):
+    saltcmd = _saltcmd(target)
+    sshout = v.ssh(command='sudo {} test.ping'.format(saltcmd))
+    log.info('\n{}\n'.format(str(sshout)))
+    return sshout
+
+def runapply(state, target):
+    saltcmd = _saltcmd(target)
     sshout = v.ssh(command='sudo {} state.apply {}'.format(saltcmd, state))
     log.info('\n{}\n'.format(str(sshout)))
 
@@ -241,6 +251,11 @@ def main_interactive():
             log.debug('state.apply requested')
             if masters is not None:
                 target = 'scullery-*'
+                count = 0
+                while not runping(target):
+                    if count == 5:
+                        _abort('Unable to reach minions')
+                    count += 1
             else:
                 target = 'local'
             runapply(testconf['apply'], target)