diff --git a/cluster/saltbase/pillar/systemd.sls b/cluster/saltbase/pillar/systemd.sls
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..83f4804f0b2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cluster/saltbase/pillar/systemd.sls
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+{% if grains['oscodename'] in [ 'vivid', 'jessie' ] %}
+is_systemd: True
+systemd_system_path: /lib/systemd/system
+{% elif grains['os_family'] == 'RedHat' %}
+is_systemd: True
+systemd_system_path: /usr/lib/systemd/system
+{% else %}
+is_systemd: False
+{% endif %}
diff --git a/cluster/saltbase/pillar/top.sls b/cluster/saltbase/pillar/top.sls
index 273eb165f02..d9ad7dbfc34 100644
--- a/cluster/saltbase/pillar/top.sls
+++ b/cluster/saltbase/pillar/top.sls
@@ -5,3 +5,4 @@ base:
     - logging
     - docker-images
     - privilege
+    - systemd
diff --git a/cluster/saltbase/salt/docker/docker-defaults b/cluster/saltbase/salt/docker/docker-defaults
index f325b4945d5..4c1aee2c6cf 100644
--- a/cluster/saltbase/salt/docker/docker-defaults
+++ b/cluster/saltbase/salt/docker/docker-defaults
@@ -1,6 +1,3 @@
-DOCKER_OPTS=""
-{% if grains.docker_opts is defined and grains.docker_opts %}
-DOCKER_OPTS="${DOCKER_OPTS} {{grains.docker_opts}}"
-{% endif %}
-DOCKER_OPTS="${DOCKER_OPTS} --bridge=cbr0 --iptables=false --ip-masq=false"
+{% set grains_opts = grains.get('docker_opts', '') -%}
+DOCKER_OPTS="{{grains_opts}} --bridge=cbr0 --iptables=false --ip-masq=false"
 DOCKER_NOFILE=1000000
diff --git a/cluster/saltbase/salt/docker/docker.service b/cluster/saltbase/salt/docker/docker.service
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ee6c377e56e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cluster/saltbase/salt/docker/docker.service
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+[Unit]
+Description=Docker Application Container Engine
+Documentation=http://docs.docker.com
+After=network.target docker.socket
+Requires=docker.socket
+
+[Service]
+EnvironmentFile={{ environment_file }}
+ExecStart=/usr/bin/docker -d -H fd:// "$DOCKER_OPTS"
+MountFlags=slave
+LimitNOFILE=1048576
+LimitNPROC=1048576
+LimitCORE=infinity
+Restart=always
+RestartSec=2s
+StartLimitInterval=0
+
+[Install]
+WantedBy=multi-user.target
+
diff --git a/cluster/saltbase/salt/docker/init.sls b/cluster/saltbase/salt/docker/init.sls
index e425f32e708..be9e0558380 100644
--- a/cluster/saltbase/salt/docker/init.sls
+++ b/cluster/saltbase/salt/docker/init.sls
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-{% if grains['os_family'] == 'RedHat' %}
+{% if pillar.get('is_systemd') %}
 {% set environment_file = '/etc/sysconfig/docker' %}
 {% else %}
 {% set environment_file = '/etc/default/docker' %}
@@ -116,6 +116,36 @@ lxc-docker-{{ override_docker_ver }}:
       - file: /var/cache/docker-install/{{ override_deb }}
 {% endif %} # end override_docker_ver != ''
 
+# Default docker systemd unit file doesn't use an EnvironmentFile; replace it with one that does.
+{% if pillar.get('is_systemd') %}
+
+{{ pillar.get('systemd_system_path') }}/docker.service:
+  file.managed:
+    - source: salt://docker/docker.service
+    - template: jinja
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
+    - mode: 644
+    - defaults:
+        environment_file: {{ environment_file }}
+
+# The docker service.running block below doesn't work reliably
+# Instead we run our script which e.g. does a systemd daemon-reload
+# But we keep the service block below, so it can be used by dependencies
+# TODO: Fix this
+fix-service-docker:
+  cmd.wait:
+    - name: /opt/kubernetes/helpers/services bounce docker
+    - watch:
+      - file: {{ pillar.get('systemd_system_path') }}/docker.service
+      - file: {{ environment_file }}
+{% if override_docker_ver != '' %}
+    - require:
+      - pkg: lxc-docker-{{ override_docker_ver }}
+{% endif %}
+
+{% endif %}
+
 docker:
   service.running:
 # Starting Docker is racy on aws for some reason.  To be honest, since Monit
diff --git a/cluster/saltbase/salt/etcd/init.sls b/cluster/saltbase/salt/etcd/init.sls
index 45310cfe60d..ca828bca94b 100644
--- a/cluster/saltbase/salt/etcd/init.sls
+++ b/cluster/saltbase/salt/etcd/init.sls
@@ -24,9 +24,11 @@ delete_etcd_default:
   file.absent:
     - name: /etc/default/etcd
 
+{% if pillar.get('is_systemd') %}
 delete_etcd_service_file:
   file.absent:
-    - name: /usr/lib/systemd/system/etcd.service
+    - name: {{ pillar.get('systemd_system_path') }}/etcd.service
+{% endif %}
 
 delete_etcd_initd:
   file.absent:
diff --git a/cluster/saltbase/salt/kube-addons/init.sls b/cluster/saltbase/salt/kube-addons/init.sls
index c5a7b31831c..46cba18b029 100644
--- a/cluster/saltbase/salt/kube-addons/init.sls
+++ b/cluster/saltbase/salt/kube-addons/init.sls
@@ -119,13 +119,17 @@ addon-dir-create:
     - group: root
     - mode: 755
 
-{% if grains['os_family'] == 'RedHat' %}
+{% if pillar.get('is_systemd') %}
 
-/usr/lib/systemd/system/kube-addons.service:
+{{ pillar.get('systemd_system_path') }}/kube-addons.service:
   file.managed:
     - source: salt://kube-addons/kube-addons.service
     - user: root
     - group: root
+  cmd.wait:
+    - name: /opt/kubernetes/helpers/services bounce kube-addons
+    - watch:
+      - file: {{ pillar.get('systemd_system_path') }}/kube-addons.service
 
 {% else %}
 
@@ -136,8 +140,6 @@ addon-dir-create:
     - group: root
     - mode: 755
 
-{% endif %}
-
 # Stop kube-addons service each time salt is executed, just in case
 # there was a modification of addons.
 # Actually, this should be handled by watching file changes, but
@@ -151,3 +153,5 @@ kube-addons:
     - enable: True
     - require:
         - service: service-kube-addon-stop
+
+{% endif %}
diff --git a/cluster/saltbase/salt/kube-apiserver/kube-apiserver.manifest b/cluster/saltbase/salt/kube-apiserver/kube-apiserver.manifest
index b8d7db0f92e..34d91da223b 100644
--- a/cluster/saltbase/salt/kube-apiserver/kube-apiserver.manifest
+++ b/cluster/saltbase/salt/kube-apiserver/kube-apiserver.manifest
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {% set daemon_args = "$DAEMON_ARGS" -%}
-{% if grains['os_family'] == 'RedHat' -%}
+{% if pillar.get('is_systemd') -%}
 	{% set daemon_args = "" -%}
 {% endif -%}
 
diff --git a/cluster/saltbase/salt/kube-master-addons/init.sls b/cluster/saltbase/salt/kube-master-addons/init.sls
index 91186052205..572ce3c1ce3 100644
--- a/cluster/saltbase/salt/kube-master-addons/init.sls
+++ b/cluster/saltbase/salt/kube-master-addons/init.sls
@@ -5,25 +5,6 @@
     - group: root
     - mode: 755
 
-{% if grains['os_family'] == 'RedHat' %}
-
-/usr/lib/systemd/system/kube-master-addons.service:
-  file.managed:
-    - source: salt://kube-master-addons/kube-master-addons.service
-    - user: root
-    - group: root
-
-{% else %}
-
-/etc/init.d/kube-master-addons:
-  file.managed:
-    - source: salt://kube-master-addons/initd
-    - user: root
-    - group: root
-    - mode: 755
-
-{% endif %}
-
 # Used to restart kube-master-addons service each time salt is run
 # Actually, it doens't work (the service is not restarted),
 # but master-addon service always terminates after it does it job,
@@ -37,6 +18,42 @@ master-docker-image-tags:
   file.touch:
     - name: /srv/pillar/docker-images.sls
 
+{% if pillar.get('is_systemd') %}
+
+{{ pillar.get('systemd_system_path') }}/kube-master-addons.service:
+  file.managed:
+    - source: salt://kube-master-addons/kube-master-addons.service
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
+  cmd.wait:
+    - name: /opt/kubernetes/helpers/services bounce kube-master-addons
+    - watch:
+      - file: master-docker-image-tags
+      - file: /etc/kubernetes/kube-master-addons.sh
+      - file: {{ pillar.get('systemd_system_path') }}/kube-master-addons.service
+
+{% else %}
+
+/etc/init.d/kube-master-addons:
+  file.managed:
+    - source: salt://kube-master-addons/initd
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
+    - mode: 755
+
+# Current containervm image by default has both docker and kubelet
+# running. But during cluster creation stage, docker and kubelet
+# could be overwritten completely, or restarted due to flag changes.
+# The ordering of salt states for service docker, kubelet and
+# master-addon below is very important to avoid the race between
+# salt restart docker or kubelet and kubelet start master components.
+# Without the ordering of salt states, when gce instance boot up,
+# configure-vm.sh will run and download the release. At the end of
+# boot, run-salt will run kube-master-addons service which installs
+# master component manifest files to kubelet config directory before
+# the installation of proper version kubelet. Please see
+# https://github.com/GoogleCloudPlatform/kubernetes/issues/10122#issuecomment-114566063
+# for detail explanation on this very issue.
 kube-master-addons:
   service.running:
     - enable: True
@@ -44,3 +61,5 @@ kube-master-addons:
     - watch:
       - file: master-docker-image-tags
       - file: /etc/kubernetes/kube-master-addons.sh
+
+{% endif %}
diff --git a/cluster/saltbase/salt/kube-proxy/default b/cluster/saltbase/salt/kube-proxy/default
index 84d9b7232e3..7d7a9470c37 100644
--- a/cluster/saltbase/salt/kube-proxy/default
+++ b/cluster/saltbase/salt/kube-proxy/default
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {% set daemon_args = "$DAEMON_ARGS" -%}
-{% if grains['os_family'] == 'RedHat' -%}
+{% if pillar.get('is_systemd') -%}
 	{% set daemon_args = "" -%}
 {% endif -%}
 {# TODO(azure-maintainer): add support for distributing kubeconfig with token to kube-proxy #}
diff --git a/cluster/saltbase/salt/kube-proxy/init.sls b/cluster/saltbase/salt/kube-proxy/init.sls
index 3d54452b2d2..7dabce92a2e 100644
--- a/cluster/saltbase/salt/kube-proxy/init.sls
+++ b/cluster/saltbase/salt/kube-proxy/init.sls
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-{% if grains['os_family'] == 'RedHat' %}
+{% if pillar.get('is_systemd') %}
 {% set environment_file = '/etc/sysconfig/kube-proxy' %}
 {% else %}
 {% set environment_file = '/etc/default/kube-proxy' %}
@@ -11,25 +11,6 @@
     - group: root
     - mode: 755
 
-{% if grains['os_family'] == 'RedHat' %}
-
-/usr/lib/systemd/system/kube-proxy.service:
-  file.managed:
-    - source: salt://kube-proxy/kube-proxy.service
-    - user: root
-    - group: root
-
-{% else %}
-
-/etc/init.d/kube-proxy:
-  file.managed:
-    - source: salt://kube-proxy/initd
-    - user: root
-    - group: root
-    - mode: 755
-
-{% endif %}
-
 {{ environment_file }}:
   file.managed:
     - source: salt://kube-proxy/default
@@ -48,15 +29,41 @@ kube-proxy:
     - home: /var/kube-proxy
     - require:
       - group: kube-proxy
+
+{% if pillar.get('is_systemd') %}
+
+{{ pillar.get('systemd_system_path') }}/kube-proxy.service:
+  file.managed:
+    - source: salt://kube-proxy/kube-proxy.service
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
+  cmd.wait:
+    - name: /opt/kubernetes/helpers/services bounce kube-proxy
+    - watch:
+      - file: {{ environment_file }}
+      - file: {{ pillar.get('systemd_system_path') }}/kube-proxy.service
+      - file: /var/lib/kube-proxy/kubeconfig
+
+{% else %}
+
+/etc/init.d/kube-proxy:
+  file.managed:
+    - source: salt://kube-proxy/initd
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
+    - mode: 755
+
+kube-proxy-service:
   service.running:
+    - name: kube-proxy
     - enable: True
     - watch:
       - file: {{ environment_file }}
-{% if grains['os_family'] != 'RedHat' %}
       - file: /etc/init.d/kube-proxy
-{% endif %}
       - file: /var/lib/kube-proxy/kubeconfig
 
+{% endif %}
+
 /var/lib/kube-proxy/kubeconfig:
   file.managed:
     - source: salt://kube-proxy/kubeconfig
diff --git a/cluster/saltbase/salt/kubelet/default b/cluster/saltbase/salt/kubelet/default
index 40c3d2b9893..7ae38e1284a 100644
--- a/cluster/saltbase/salt/kubelet/default
+++ b/cluster/saltbase/salt/kubelet/default
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {% set daemon_args = "$DAEMON_ARGS" -%}
-{% if grains['os_family'] == 'RedHat' -%}
+{% if pillar.get('is_systemd') -%}
   {% set daemon_args = "" -%}
 {% endif -%}
 
diff --git a/cluster/saltbase/salt/kubelet/init.sls b/cluster/saltbase/salt/kubelet/init.sls
index 8a8838a46a4..2dd0399a71d 100644
--- a/cluster/saltbase/salt/kubelet/init.sls
+++ b/cluster/saltbase/salt/kubelet/init.sls
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-{% if grains['os_family'] == 'RedHat' %}
+{% if pillar.get('is_systemd') %}
 {% set environment_file = '/etc/sysconfig/kubelet' %}
 {% else %}
 {% set environment_file = '/etc/default/kubelet' %}
@@ -19,25 +19,6 @@
     - group: root
     - mode: 755
 
-{% if grains['os_family'] == 'RedHat' %}
-
-/usr/lib/systemd/system/kubelet.service:
-  file.managed:
-    - source: salt://kubelet/kubelet.service
-    - user: root
-    - group: root
-
-{% else %}
-
-/etc/init.d/kubelet:
-  file.managed:
-    - source: salt://kubelet/initd
-    - user: root
-    - group: root
-    - mode: 755
-
-{% endif %}
-
 # The default here is that this file is blank.  If this is the case, the kubelet
 # won't be able to parse it as JSON and will try to use the kubernetes_auth file
 # instead.  You'll see a single error line in the kubelet start up file
@@ -64,12 +45,46 @@
     - mode: 400
     - makedirs: true
 
+{% if pillar.get('is_systemd') %}
+
+{{ pillar.get('systemd_system_path') }}/kubelet.service:
+  file.managed:
+    - source: salt://kubelet/kubelet.service
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
+
+# The service.running block below doesn't work reliably
+# Instead we run our script which e.g. does a systemd daemon-reload
+# But we keep the service block below, so it can be used by dependencies
+# TODO: Fix this
+fix-service-kubelet:
+  cmd.wait:
+    - name: /opt/kubernetes/helpers/services bounce kubelet
+    - watch:
+      - file: /usr/local/bin/kubelet
+      - file: {{ pillar.get('systemd_system_path') }}/kubelet.service
+      - file: {{ environment_file }}
+      - file: /var/lib/kubelet/kubernetes_auth
+
+{% else %}
+
+/etc/init.d/kubelet:
+  file.managed:
+    - source: salt://kubelet/initd
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
+    - mode: 755
+
+{% endif %}
+
 kubelet:
   service.running:
     - enable: True
     - watch:
       - file: /usr/local/bin/kubelet
-{% if grains['os_family'] != 'RedHat' %}
+{% if pillar.get('is_systemd') %}
+      - file: {{ pillar.get('systemd_system_path') }}/kubelet.service
+{% else %}
       - file: /etc/init.d/kubelet
 {% endif %}
 {% if grains['os_family'] == 'RedHat' %}
diff --git a/cluster/saltbase/salt/monit/init.sls b/cluster/saltbase/salt/monit/init.sls
index 9a189e4e8da..97a35ca3b08 100644
--- a/cluster/saltbase/salt/monit/init.sls
+++ b/cluster/saltbase/salt/monit/init.sls
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-{% if grains['os_family'] != 'RedHat' %}
+{% if not pillar.get('is_systemd') %}
 
 monit:
   pkg:
diff --git a/cluster/saltbase/salt/salt-helpers/init.sls b/cluster/saltbase/salt/salt-helpers/init.sls
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..5298e4f63a3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cluster/saltbase/salt/salt-helpers/init.sls
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+{% if pillar.get('is_systemd') %}
+/opt/kubernetes/helpers:
+  file.directory:
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
+    - makedirs: True
+    - dir_mode: 755
+
+/opt/kubernetes/helpers/services:
+  file.managed:
+    - source: salt://salt-helpers/services
+    - user: root
+    - group: root
+    - mode: 755
+{% endif %}
diff --git a/cluster/saltbase/salt/salt-helpers/services b/cluster/saltbase/salt/salt-helpers/services
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..c1ff8a07791
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cluster/saltbase/salt/salt-helpers/services
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+# Copyright 2015 The Kubernetes Authors All rights reserved.
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+set -e
+
+ACTION=${1}
+SERVICE=${2}
+
+if [[ -z "${ACTION}" || -z "${SERVICE}" ]]; then
+  echo "Syntax: ${0} <action> <service>"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+
+function reload_state() {
+  systemctl daemon-reload
+}
+
+function start_service() {
+  systemctl start ${SERVICE}
+}
+
+function stop_service() {
+  systemctl stop ${SERVICE}
+}
+
+function enable_service() {
+  systemctl enable ${SERVICE}
+}
+
+function disable_service() {
+  systemctl disable ${SERVICE}
+}
+
+function restart_service() {
+  systemctl restart ${SERVICE}
+}
+
+if [[ "${ACTION}" == "up" ]]; then
+  reload_state
+  enable_service
+  start_service
+elif [[ "${ACTION}" == "bounce" ]]; then
+  reload_state
+  enable_service
+  restart_service
+elif [[ "${ACTION}" == "down" ]]; then
+  reload_state
+  disable_service
+  stop_service
+else
+  echo "Unknown action: ${ACTION}"
+  exit 1
+fi
diff --git a/cluster/saltbase/salt/top.sls b/cluster/saltbase/salt/top.sls
index 30c42dd4538..de1e711d905 100644
--- a/cluster/saltbase/salt/top.sls
+++ b/cluster/saltbase/salt/top.sls
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ base:
   '*':
     - base
     - debian-auto-upgrades
+    - salt-helpers
 
   'roles:kubernetes-pool':
     - match: grain