diff --git a/salt/minion.py b/salt/minion.py
index c87891456b8..94152b8e8a6 100644
--- a/salt/minion.py
+++ b/salt/minion.py
@@ -1714,7 +1714,6 @@ def _thread_return(cls, minion_instance, opts, data):
                 )
                 ret['return'] = 'ERROR: {0}'.format(exc)
                 ret['out'] = 'nested'
-                ret['retcode'] = salt.defaults.exitcodes.EX_GENERIC
             except SaltInvocationError as exc:
                 log.error(
                     'Problem executing \'%s\': %s',