diff --git a/salt/api.sls b/salt/api.sls
index 78e5ed1..fde268b 100644
--- a/salt/api.sls
+++ b/salt/api.sls
@@ -1,14 +1,14 @@
-{% from "salt/map.jinja" import salt with context %}
+{% from "salt/map.jinja" import salt_settings with context %}
 
 include:
   - salt.master
 
 salt-api:
   pkg.installed:
-    - name: {{ salt['salt-api'] }}
+    - name: {{ salt_settings.salt_api }}
   service.running:
-    - name: {{ salt.get('api-service', 'salt-api') }}
+    - name: {{ salt_settings.api_service }}
     - require:
-      - service: {{ salt.get('api-service', 'salt-master') }}
+      - service: {{ salt_settings.api_service }}
     - watch:
       - pkg: salt-master
diff --git a/salt/cloud.sls b/salt/cloud.sls
index 361df4d..2998a06 100644
--- a/salt/cloud.sls
+++ b/salt/cloud.sls
@@ -1,6 +1,4 @@
-{% from "salt/map.jinja" import salt with context %}
-{% do salt.update(pillar.get('salt', {})) -%}
-{% set cloud = salt.get('cloud', {}) -%}
+{% from "salt/map.jinja" import salt_settings with context %}
 
 python-pip:
   pkg.installed
@@ -24,7 +22,7 @@ apache-libcloud:
 
 salt-cloud:
   pkg.installed:
-    - name: {{ salt['salt-cloud'] }}
+    - name: {{ salt_settings.salt_cloud }}
     - require:
       - pip: apache-libcloud
       - pip: pycrypto
@@ -32,7 +30,7 @@ salt-cloud:
       - pip: crypto
       {% endif %}
 
-{% for folder in cloud['folders'] %}
+{% for folder in salt_settings.cloud.folders %}
 {{ folder }}:
   file.directory:
     - name: /etc/salt/{{ folder }}
@@ -43,7 +41,7 @@ salt-cloud:
     - makedirs: True
 {% endfor %}
 
-{% for cert in pillar.get('salt_cloud_certs', {}) %}
+{% for cert in salt_settings.salt_cloud_certs %}
 {% for type in ['pem'] %}
 cloud-cert-{{ cert }}-pem:
   file.managed:
@@ -59,23 +57,19 @@ cloud-cert-{{ cert }}-pem:
 {% endfor %}
 {% endfor %}
 
-{% for providers in cloud['providers'] %}
+{% for providers in salt_settings.cloud.providers %}
 salt-cloud-profiles-{{ providers }}:
   file.managed:
     - name: /etc/salt/cloud.profiles.d/{{ providers }}.conf
     - template: jinja
     - source: salt://salt/files/cloud.profiles.d/{{ providers }}.conf
-{% endfor %}
 
-{% for providers in cloud['providers'] %}
 salt-cloud-providers-{{ providers }}:
   file.managed:
     - name: /etc/salt/cloud.providers.d/{{ providers }}.conf
     - template: jinja
     - source: salt://salt/files/cloud.providers.d/{{ providers }}.conf
-{% endfor %}
 
-{% for providers in cloud['providers'] %}
 salt-cloud-maps-{{ providers }}:
   file.managed:
     - name: /etc/salt/cloud.maps.d/{{ providers }}.conf
diff --git a/salt/defaults.yaml b/salt/defaults.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5b9b92f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/salt/defaults.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+salt:
+  config_path: /etc/salt
+  minion_service: salt-minion
+  master_service: salt-master
+  api_service: salt-api
+  syndic_service: salt-syndic
+  salt_master: salt-master
+  salt_minion: salt-minion
+  salt_syndic: salt-syndic
+  salt_cloud: salt-cloud
+  salt_api: salt-api
+  salt_ssh: salt-ssh
diff --git a/salt/map.jinja b/salt/map.jinja
index a4ada55..0f989e7 100644
--- a/salt/map.jinja
+++ b/salt/map.jinja
@@ -1,65 +1,72 @@
-{% set salt = salt['grains.filter_by']({
-    'Debian':  {'salt-master': 'salt-master',
-                'salt-minion': 'salt-minion',
-                'salt-syndic': 'salt-syndic',
-                'salt-cloud': 'salt-cloud',
-                'salt-api': 'salt-api',
-                'salt-ssh': 'salt-ssh'},
-    'Ubuntu':  {'salt-master': 'salt-master',
-                'salt-minion': 'salt-minion',
-                'salt-syndic': 'salt-syndic',
-                'salt-cloud': 'salt-cloud',
-                'salt-api': 'salt-api',
-                'salt-ssh': 'salt-ssh'},
-    'CentOS':  {'salt-master': 'salt-master',
-                'salt-minion': 'salt-minion',
-                'salt-syndic': 'salt-syndic',
-                'salt-cloud': 'salt-cloud',
-                'salt-api': 'salt-api',
-                'salt-ssh': 'salt-ssh'},
-    'Amazon':  {'salt-master': 'salt-master',
-                'salt-minion': 'salt-minion',
-                'salt-syndic': 'salt-syndic',
-                'salt-cloud': 'salt-cloud',
-                'salt-api': 'salt-api',
-                'salt-ssh': 'salt-ssh'},
-    'Fedora':  {'salt-master': 'salt-master',
-                'salt-minion': 'salt-minion',
-                'salt-syndic': 'salt-syndic',
-                'salt-cloud': 'salt-cloud',
-                'salt-api': 'salt-api',
-                'salt-ssh': 'salt-ssh'},
-    'RedHat':  {'salt-master': 'salt-master',
-                'salt-minion': 'salt-minion',
-                'salt-syndic': 'salt-syndic',
-                'salt-cloud': 'salt-cloud',
-                'salt-api': 'salt-api',
-                'salt-ssh': 'salt-ssh'},
-    'Gentoo':  {'salt-master': 'app-admin/salt',
-                'salt-minion': 'app-admin/salt',
-                'salt-syndic': 'app-admin/salt',
-                'salt-api': 'app-admin/salt',
-                'salt-cloud': 'app-admin/salt'},
-    'Arch':    {'salt-master': 'salt-zmq',
-                'salt-minion':  'salt-zmq',
-                'salt-syndic':  'salt-zmq',
-                'salt-cloud':  'salt-zmq',
-                'salt-api': 'salt-zmq',
-                'salt-ssh':  'salt-zmq'},
-    'Suse':    {'salt-master': 'salt-master',
-                'salt-minion':  'salt-minion',
-                'salt-syndic':  'salt-syndic',
-                'salt-api': 'salt-api',
-                'salt-cloud':  'salt-cloud',
-                'salt-ssh':  'salt-ssh'},
-    'FreeBSD': {'salt-master': 'py27-salt',
-                'salt-minion': 'py27-salt',
-                'salt-syndic': 'py27-salt',
-                'salt-cloud': 'py27-salt',
-                'salt-api': 'py27-salt',
-                'config-path': '/usr/local/etc/salt',
-                'minion-service': 'salt_minion',
-                'master-service': 'salt_master',
-                'api-service': 'salt_api',
-                'syndic-service': 'salt_syndic'},
+{% import_yaml "salt/defaults.yaml" as default_settings %}
+
+{% set distro_map = salt['grains.filter_by']({
+    'Debian':  {'salt_master': 'salt-master',
+                'salt_minion': 'salt-minion',
+                'salt_syndic': 'salt-syndic',
+                'salt_cloud': 'salt-cloud',
+                'salt_api': 'salt-api',
+                'salt_ssh': 'salt-ssh'},
+    'Ubuntu':  {'salt_master': 'salt-master',
+                'salt_minion': 'salt-minion',
+                'salt_syndic': 'salt-syndic',
+                'salt_cloud': 'salt-cloud',
+                'salt_api': 'salt-api',
+                'salt_ssh': 'salt-ssh'},
+    'CentOS':  {'salt_master': 'salt-master',
+                'salt_minion': 'salt-minion',
+                'salt_syndic': 'salt-syndic',
+                'salt_cloud': 'salt-cloud',
+                'salt_api': 'salt-api',
+                'salt_ssh': 'salt-ssh'},
+    'Amazon':  {'salt_master': 'salt-master',
+                'salt_minion': 'salt-minion',
+                'salt_syndic': 'salt-syndic',
+                'salt_cloud': 'salt-cloud',
+                'salt_api': 'salt-api',
+                'salt_ssh': 'salt-ssh'},
+    'Fedora':  {'salt_master': 'salt-master',
+                'salt_minion': 'salt-minion',
+                'salt_syndic': 'salt-syndic',
+                'salt_cloud': 'salt-cloud',
+                'salt_api': 'salt-api',
+                'salt_ssh': 'salt-ssh'},
+    'RedHat':  {'salt_master': 'salt-master',
+                'salt_minion': 'salt-minion',
+                'salt_syndic': 'salt-syndic',
+                'salt_cloud': 'salt-cloud',
+                'salt_api': 'salt-api',
+                'salt_ssh': 'salt-ssh'},
+    'Gentoo':  {'salt_master': 'app-admin/salt',
+                'salt_minion': 'app-admin/salt',
+                'salt_syndic': 'app-admin/salt',
+                'salt_api': 'app-admin/salt',
+                'salt_cloud': 'app-admin/salt'},
+    'Arch':    {'salt_master': 'salt-zmq',
+                'salt_minion':  'salt-zmq',
+                'salt_syndic':  'salt-zmq',
+                'salt_cloud':  'salt-zmq',
+                'salt_api': 'salt-zmq',
+                'salt_ssh':  'salt-zmq'},
+    'Suse':    {'salt_master': 'salt-master',
+                'salt_minion':  'salt-minion',
+                'salt_syndic':  'salt-syndic',
+                'salt_api': 'salt-api',
+                'salt_cloud':  'salt-cloud',
+                'salt_ssh':  'salt-ssh'},
+    'FreeBSD': {'salt_master': 'py27-salt',
+                'salt_minion': 'py27-salt',
+                'salt_syndic': 'py27-salt',
+                'salt_cloud': 'py27-salt',
+                'salt_api': 'py27-salt',
+                'config_path': '/usr/local/etc/salt',
+                'minion_service': 'salt_minion',
+                'master_service': 'salt_master',
+                'api_service': 'salt_api',
+                'syndic_service': 'salt_syndic'},
 }, merge=salt['pillar.get']('salt:lookup')) %}
+
+{% do default_settings.salt.update(distro_map) %}
+
+{% set salt_settings = salt['pillar.get']('salt', default=default_settings.salt,
+  merge=True) %}
diff --git a/salt/master.sls b/salt/master.sls
index 8885a0a..49b6ef0 100644
--- a/salt/master.sls
+++ b/salt/master.sls
@@ -1,16 +1,16 @@
-{% from "salt/map.jinja" import salt with context %}
+{% from "salt/map.jinja" import salt_settings with context %}
 
 salt-master:
   pkg.installed:
-    - name: {{ salt['salt-master'] }}
+    - name: {{ salt_settings.salt_master }}
   file.recurse:
-    - name: {{ salt.get('config-path', '/etc/salt') }}/master.d
+    - name: {{ salt_settings.config_path }}/master.d
     - template: jinja
     - source: salt://salt/files/master.d
     - clean: True
   service.running:
     - enable: True
-    - name: {{ salt.get('master-service', 'salt-master') }}
+    - name: {{ salt_settings.master_service }}
     - watch:
       - pkg: salt-master
       - file: salt-master
diff --git a/salt/minion.sls b/salt/minion.sls
index db4958b..bf0860a 100644
--- a/salt/minion.sls
+++ b/salt/minion.sls
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
-{% from "salt/map.jinja" import salt with context %}
+{% from "salt/map.jinja" import salt_settings with context %}
 
 salt-minion:
   pkg.installed:
-    - name: {{ salt['salt-minion'] }}
+    - name: {{ salt_settings.salt_minion }}
   file.recurse:
-    - name: {{ salt.get('config-path', '/etc/salt') }}/minion.d
+    - name: {{ salt_settings.config_path }}/minion.d
     - template: jinja
     - source: salt://salt/files/minion.d
     - clean: True
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ salt-minion:
         standalone: False
   service.running:
     - enable: True
-    - name: {{ salt.get('minion-service', 'salt-minion') }}
+    - name: {{ salt_settings.minion_service }}
     - watch:
       - pkg: salt-minion
       - file: salt-minion
diff --git a/salt/ssh.sls b/salt/ssh.sls
index 411d57f..1a43ab9 100644
--- a/salt/ssh.sls
+++ b/salt/ssh.sls
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
-{% from "salt/map.jinja" import salt with context %}
+{% from "salt/map.jinja" import salt_settings with context %}
 
 ensure salt-ssh is installed:
   pkg.installed:
-    - name: {{ salt['salt-ssh'] }}
+    - name: {{ salt_settings.salt_ssh }}
 
 ensure roster config:
   file.managed:
-    - name: {{ salt.get('config_path', '/etc/salt') }}/roster
+    - name: {{ salt_settings.config_path }}/roster
     - source: salt://salt/files/roster.jinja
     - template: jinja
     - require:
diff --git a/salt/standalone.sls b/salt/standalone.sls
index aaa2007..d7bf2d8 100644
--- a/salt/standalone.sls
+++ b/salt/standalone.sls
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
-{% from "salt/map.jinja" import salt with context %}
+{% from "salt/map.jinja" import salt_settings with context %}
 
 salt-minion:
   pkg.installed:
-    - name: {{ salt['salt-minion'] }}
+    - name: {{ salt_settings.salt_minion }}
   file.recurse:
-    - name: {{ salt.get('config-path', '/etc/salt') }}/minion.d
+    - name: {{ salt_settings.config_path }}/minion.d
     - template: jinja
     - source: salt://salt/files/minion.d
     - clean: True
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ salt-minion:
         standalone: True
   service.dead:
     - enable: False
-    - name: {{ salt.get('minion-service', 'salt-minion') }}
+    - name: {{ salt_settings.minion_service }}
     - require:
       - pkg: salt-minion
       - file: salt-minion
diff --git a/salt/syndic.sls b/salt/syndic.sls
index a9ec986..65c67e2 100644
--- a/salt/syndic.sls
+++ b/salt/syndic.sls
@@ -1,15 +1,15 @@
-{% from "salt/map.jinja" import salt with context %}
+{% from "salt/map.jinja" import salt_settings with context %}
 
 include:
   - salt.master
 
 salt-syndic:
   pkg.installed:
-    - name: {{ salt['salt-syndic'] }}
+    - name: {{ salt_settings.salt_syndic }}
   service:
     - running
     - require:
-      - service: {{ salt.get('syndic-service', 'salt-master') }}
+      - service: {{ salt_settings.syndic_service }}
     - watch:
       - pkg: salt-master
-      - file: {{ salt.get('config-path', '/etc/salt') }}/master
+      - file: {{ salt_settings.config_path }}/master