diff --git a/pillar.example b/pillar.example
index dd408823..aef11ed0 100644
--- a/pillar.example
+++ b/pillar.example
@@ -10,9 +10,15 @@ salt:
   # This state will remove "/etc/salt/minion" when you set this to true.
   minion_remove_config: true
 
+  # /etc/salt/minion will be emptied if you set this to true.
+  minion_empty_config: true
+
   # This state will remove "/etc/salt/master" when you set this to true.
   master_remove_config: true
 
+  # /etc/salt/master will be emptied if you set this to true.
+  master_empty_config: true
+
   # Set this to 'py3' to install the Python 3 packages.
   # The default varies between OS versions.
   py_ver: 'py3'
diff --git a/salt/defaults.yaml b/salt/defaults.yaml
index 2b84eec3..ca607746 100644
--- a/salt/defaults.yaml
+++ b/salt/defaults.yaml
@@ -16,7 +16,9 @@ salt:
   config_path: /etc/salt
 
   minion_remove_config: false
+  minion_empty_config: false
   master_remove_config: false
+  master_empty_config: false
   minion_config_use_TOFS: false
   master_config_use_TOFS: false
 
diff --git a/salt/master.sls b/salt/master.sls
index af9d867d..c0075f86 100644
--- a/salt/master.sls
+++ b/salt/master.sls
@@ -72,6 +72,12 @@ remove-default-master-conf-file:
     - name: {{ salt_settings.config_path }}/master
     - watch_in:
       - service: salt-master
+    {% elif salt_settings.master_empty_config %}
+empty-default-master-conf-file:
+  file.managed:
+    - name: {{ salt_settings.config_path }}/master
+    - contents: |
+        # Configuration is managed by Salt
     {% endif %}
 
 # clean up old _defaults.conf file if they have it around
diff --git a/salt/minion.sls b/salt/minion.sls
index 97db5b32..b944bf8d 100644
--- a/salt/minion.sls
+++ b/salt/minion.sls
@@ -181,6 +181,12 @@ salt-minion-beacon-inotify:
 remove-default-minion-conf-file:
   file.absent:
     - name: {{ salt_settings.config_path }}/minion
+    {% elif salt_settings.minion_empty_config %}
+empty-default-minion-conf-file:
+  file.managed:
+    - name: {{ salt_settings.config_path }}/master
+    - contents: |
+        # Configuration is managed by Salt
     {% endif %}
 
 # clean up old _defaults.conf file if they have it around