diff --git a/salt/states/reg.py b/salt/states/reg.py
index f776a342301c..af3510aabc92 100644
--- a/salt/states/reg.py
+++ b/salt/states/reg.py
@@ -396,10 +396,13 @@ def present(name,
                                               vname=vname,
                                               use_32bit_registry=use_32bit_registry)
 
+    # Cast the vdata according to the vtype
+    vdata_decoded = __utils__['reg.cast_vdata'](vdata=vdata, vtype=vtype)
+
     # Check if the key already exists
     # If so, check perms
     # We check `vdata` and `success` because `vdata` can be None
-    if vdata == reg_current['vdata'] and reg_current['success']:
+    if vdata_decoded == reg_current['vdata'] and reg_current['success']:
         ret['comment'] = '{0} in {1} is already present' \
                          ''.format(salt.utils.stringutils.to_unicode(vname, 'utf-8') if vname else '(Default)',
                                    salt.utils.stringutils.to_unicode(name, 'utf-8'))
@@ -413,9 +416,6 @@ def present(name,
             inheritance=win_inheritance,
             reset=win_perms_reset)
 
-    # Cast the vdata according to the vtype
-    vdata_decoded = __utils__['reg.cast_vdata'](vdata=vdata, vtype=vtype)
-
     add_change = {'Key': r'{0}\{1}'.format(hive, key),
                   'Entry': '{0}'.format(salt.utils.stringutils.to_unicode(vname, 'utf-8') if vname else '(Default)'),
                   'Value': vdata_decoded,
@@ -440,10 +440,10 @@ def present(name,
 
     if not ret['result']:
         ret['changes'] = {}
-        ret['comment'] = r'Failed to add {0} to {1}\{2}'.format(name, hive, key)
+        ret['comment'] = r'Failed to add {0} to {1}\{2}'.format(vname, hive, key)
     else:
         ret['changes'] = {'reg': {'Added': add_change}}
-        ret['comment'] = r'Added {0} to {1}\{2}'.format(name, hive, key)
+        ret['comment'] = r'Added {0} to {1}\{2}'.format(vname, hive, key)
 
     if ret['result']:
         ret = __utils__['dacl.check_perms'](
diff --git a/tests/unit/states/test_reg.py b/tests/unit/states/test_reg.py
index c65178cb96e1..e20df558485c 100644
--- a/tests/unit/states/test_reg.py
+++ b/tests/unit/states/test_reg.py
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ def test_present(self):
         Test to set a registry entry.
         '''
         expected = {
-            'comment': 'Added {0} to {0}'.format(self.name),
+            'comment': 'Added {0} to {1}'.format(self.vname, self.name),
             'pchanges': {},
             'changes': {
                 'reg': {
@@ -58,15 +58,65 @@ def test_present(self):
                         'Perms': {
                             'Deny': None,
                             'Grant': None},
-                        'Value': '0.15.3',
+                        'Value': self.vdata,
                         'Key': self.name,
                         'Owner': None,
-                        'Entry': 'version'}}},
+                        'Entry': self.vname}}},
             'name': self.name,
             'result': True}
         ret = reg.present(self.name, vname=self.vname, vdata=self.vdata)
         self.assertDictEqual(ret, expected)
 
+    @destructiveTest
+    def test_present_string_dword(self):
+        '''
+        Test to set a registry entry.
+        '''
+        vname = 'dword_data'
+        vdata = '00000001'
+        vtype = 'REG_DWORD'
+        expected_vdata = 1
+        expected = {
+            'comment': 'Added {0} to {1}'.format(vname, self.name),
+            'pchanges': {},
+            'changes': {
+                'reg': {
+                    'Added': {
+                        'Inheritance': True,
+                        'Perms': {
+                            'Deny': None,
+                            'Grant': None},
+                        'Value': expected_vdata,
+                        'Key': self.name,
+                        'Owner': None,
+                        'Entry': vname}}},
+            'name': self.name,
+            'result': True}
+        ret = reg.present(
+            self.name, vname=vname, vdata=vdata, vtype=vtype)
+        self.assertDictEqual(ret, expected)
+
+    @destructiveTest
+    def test_present_string_dword_existing(self):
+        '''
+        Test to set a registry entry.
+        '''
+        vname = 'dword_data'
+        vdata = '0000001'
+        vtype = 'REG_DWORD'
+        # Set it first
+        reg.present(
+            self.name, vname=vname, vdata=vdata, vtype=vtype)
+        expected = {
+            'comment': '{0} in {1} is already present'.format(vname, self.name),
+            'pchanges': {},
+            'changes': {},
+            'name': self.name,
+            'result': True}
+        ret = reg.present(
+            self.name, vname=vname, vdata=vdata, vtype=vtype)
+        self.assertDictEqual(ret, expected)
+
     def test_present_test_true(self):
         expected = {
             'comment': '',
diff --git a/tests/unit/utils/test_win_reg.py b/tests/unit/utils/test_win_reg.py
index 728800ad0dcc..f9230886cdfb 100644
--- a/tests/unit/utils/test_win_reg.py
+++ b/tests/unit/utils/test_win_reg.py
@@ -630,12 +630,17 @@ def test_cast_vdata_reg_dword(self):
         Should always return integer
         '''
         vdata = 1
+        expected = 1
         result = win_reg.cast_vdata(vdata=vdata, vtype='REG_DWORD')
-        self.assertTrue(isinstance(result, six.integer_types))
+        self.assertEqual(result, expected)
 
         vdata = '1'
         result = win_reg.cast_vdata(vdata=vdata, vtype='REG_DWORD')
-        self.assertTrue(isinstance(result, six.integer_types))
+        self.assertEqual(result, expected)
+
+        vdata = '0000001'
+        result = win_reg.cast_vdata(vdata=vdata, vtype='REG_DWORD')
+        self.assertEqual(result, expected)
 
     def test_cast_vdata_reg_expand_sz(self):
         '''