diff --git a/salt/states/pkg.py b/salt/states/pkg.py
index 3a86cecfa21a..0269f55cd25f 100644
--- a/salt/states/pkg.py
+++ b/salt/states/pkg.py
@@ -241,8 +241,11 @@ def _find_install_targets(name=None,
                 # Change it to "==" so that the version comparison works
                 if comparison in ['=', '']:
                     comparison = '=='
+                if 'allow_updates' in kwargs:
+                    if kwargs['allow_updates']:
+                        comparison = '>='
                 if not _fulfills_version_spec(cver, comparison, verstr):
-                    # Current version did not match desired, add to targets
+                    log.debug('Current version ({0} did not match ({1}) desired ({2}), add to targets'.format(cver, comparison, verstr))
                     targets[pkgname] = pkgver
 
         if problems:
@@ -337,6 +340,7 @@ def installed(
         skip_suggestions=False,
         pkgs=None,
         sources=None,
+        allow_updates=False,
         **kwargs):
     '''
     Verify that the package is installed, and that it is the correct version
@@ -428,6 +432,13 @@ def installed(
 
         .. versionadded:: Helium
 
+    allow_updates
+        Allow the package to be updated outside Salt's control (e.g. auto updates on Windows).
+        This means a package on the Minion can have a newer version than the latest available
+        in the repository without enforcing a re-installation of the package.
+
+        .. versionadded:: Helium
+
     Example:
 
     .. code-block:: yaml
@@ -546,6 +557,7 @@ def installed(
     if not isinstance(version, string_types) and version is not None:
         version = str(version)
 
+    kwargs['allow_updates'] = allow_updates
     result = _find_install_targets(name, version, pkgs, sources,
                                    fromrepo=fromrepo,
                                    skip_suggestions=skip_suggestions,