diff --git a/provisioner/salt-masterless/provisioner.go b/provisioner/salt-masterless/provisioner.go
index 80001e8d0..646a07c26 100644
--- a/provisioner/salt-masterless/provisioner.go
+++ b/provisioner/salt-masterless/provisioner.go
@@ -68,13 +68,12 @@ func (p *Provisioner) Prepare(raws ...interface{}) error {
 		}
 	}
 
-	if p.config.LocalStateTree == "" {
-		errs = packer.MultiErrorAppend(errs,
-			errors.New("Please specify a local_state_tree"))
-	} else if _, err := os.Stat(p.config.LocalStateTree); err != nil {
-		errs = packer.MultiErrorAppend(errs,
-			errors.New("local_state_tree must exist and be accessible"))
-	}
+	if p.config.LocalStateTree != "" {
+		if _, err := os.Stat(p.config.LocalStateTree); err != nil {
+			errs = packer.MultiErrorAppend(errs,
+				errors.New("local_state_tree must exist and be accessible"))
+		}
+        }
 
 	if errs != nil && len(errs.Errors) > 0 {
 		return errs
diff --git a/website/source/docs/provisioners/salt-masterless.html.markdown b/website/source/docs/provisioners/salt-masterless.html.markdown
index 0ed1ea51e..84e6f09ec 100644
--- a/website/source/docs/provisioners/salt-masterless.html.markdown
+++ b/website/source/docs/provisioners/salt-masterless.html.markdown
@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@ layout: "docs"
 
 Type: `salt-masterless`
 
-The salt-masterless provisioner provisions machines built by Packer using [Salt](http://saltstack.com/) states.
+The `salt-masterless` provisioner provisions machines built by Packer using
+[Salt](http://saltstack.com/) states, without connecting to a Salt master.
 
 ## Basic Example
 
@@ -15,7 +16,6 @@ The example below is fully functional.
 <pre class="prettyprint">
 {
     "type": "salt-masterless",
-    "bootstrap_args": "git v0.16.0"
     "local_state_tree": "/Users/me/salt"
 }
 </pre>
@@ -24,15 +24,21 @@ The example below is fully functional.
 
 The reference of available configuration options is listed below. The only required argument is the path to your local salt state tree.
 
-Required:
-
-* `local_state_tree` (string) - The path to your local [state tree](http://docs.saltstack.com/ref/states/highstate.html#the-salt-state-tree). This will be uploaded to the `/srv/salt` on the remote, and removed before shutdown.
-
 Optional:
 
-* `skip_bootstrap` (boolean) - By default the salt provisioner runs [salt bootstrap](https://github.com/saltstack/salt-bootstrap) to install salt. Set this to true to skip this step.
+* `local_state_tree` (string) - The path to your local
+  [state tree](http://docs.saltstack.com/ref/states/highstate.html#the-salt-state-tree).
+  This will be uploaded to the `/srv/salt` on the remote.
+
+* `skip_bootstrap` (boolean) - By default the salt provisioner runs
+  [salt bootstrap](https://github.com/saltstack/salt-bootstrap) to install
+  salt. Set this to true to skip this step.
 
-* `boostrap_args` (string) -
-  Arguments to send to the bootstrap script. Usage is somewhat documented on [github](https://github.com/saltstack/salt-bootstrap), but the [script itself](https://github.com/saltstack/salt-bootstrap/blob/develop/bootstrap-salt.sh) has more detailed usage instructions. By default, no arguments are sent to the script.
+* `boostrap_args` (string) - Arguments to send to the bootstrap script. Usage
+  is somewhat documented on [github](https://github.com/saltstack/salt-bootstrap),
+  but the [script itself](https://github.com/saltstack/salt-bootstrap/blob/develop/bootstrap-salt.sh)
+  has more detailed usage instructions. By default, no arguments are sent to
+  the script.
 
-* `temp_config_dir` (string) - Where your local state tree will be copied before moving to the `/srv/salt` directory. Default is `/tmp/salt`.
+* `temp_config_dir` (string) - Where your local state tree will be copied
+  before moving to the `/srv/salt` directory. Default is `/tmp/salt`.
diff --git a/website/source/docs/provisioners/salt.html.markdown b/website/source/docs/provisioners/salt.html.markdown
deleted file mode 100644
index 16689a426..000000000
--- a/website/source/docs/provisioners/salt.html.markdown
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,47 +0,0 @@
----
-layout: "docs"
----
-
-# Salt Masterless Provisioner
-
-Type: `salt-masterless`
-
-The `salt-masterless` provisioner provisions machines built by Packer using
-[Salt](http://saltstack.com/) states, without connecting to a Salt master.
-
-## Basic Example
-
-The example below is fully functional.
-
-<pre class="prettyprint">
-{
-    "type": "salt-masterless",
-    "local_state_tree": "/Users/me/salt"
-}
-</pre>
-
-## Configuration Reference
-
-The reference of available configuration options is listed below. The only required argument is the path to your local salt state tree.
-
-Required:
-
-* `local_state_tree` (string) - The path to your local
-  [state tree](http://docs.saltstack.com/ref/states/highstate.html#the-salt-state-tree).
-  This will be uploaded to the `/srv/salt` on the remote, and removed before
-  shutdown.
-
-Optional:
-
-* `skip_bootstrap` (boolean) - By default the salt provisioner runs
-  [salt bootstrap](https://github.com/saltstack/salt-bootstrap) to install
-  salt. Set this to true to skip this step.
-
-* `boostrap_args` (string) - Arguments to send to the bootstrap script. Usage
-  is somewhat documented on [github](https://github.com/saltstack/salt-bootstrap),
-  but the [script itself](https://github.com/saltstack/salt-bootstrap/blob/develop/bootstrap-salt.sh)
-  has more detailed usage instructions. By default, no arguments are sent to
-  the script.
-
-* `temp_config_dir` (string) - Where your local state tree will be copied
-  before moving to the `/srv/salt` directory. Default is `/tmp/salt`.