diff --git a/salt/cloud/clouds/ec2.py b/salt/cloud/clouds/ec2.py
index a197519c42b2..2cffd0b81d31 100644
--- a/salt/cloud/clouds/ec2.py
+++ b/salt/cloud/clouds/ec2.py
@@ -82,7 +82,6 @@
 import binascii
 import datetime
 import base64
-import msgpack
 import re
 import decimal
 
@@ -91,6 +90,7 @@
 import salt.utils.files
 import salt.utils.hashutils
 import salt.utils.json
+import salt.utils.msgpack
 import salt.utils.stringutils
 import salt.utils.yaml
 from salt._compat import ElementTree as ET
@@ -4859,7 +4859,7 @@ def _parse_pricing(url, name):
         __opts__['cachedir'], 'ec2-pricing-{0}.p'.format(name)
     )
     with salt.utils.files.fopen(outfile, 'w') as fho:
-        msgpack.dump(regions, fho)
+        salt.utils.msgpack.dump(regions, fho)
 
     return True
 
@@ -4927,7 +4927,8 @@ def show_pricing(kwargs=None, call=None):
         update_pricing({'type': name}, 'function')
 
     with salt.utils.files.fopen(pricefile, 'r') as fhi:
-        ec2_price = salt.utils.stringutils.to_unicode(msgpack.load(fhi))
+        ec2_price = salt.utils.stringutils.to_unicode(
+            salt.utils.msgpack.load(fhi))
 
     region = get_location(profile)
     size = profile.get('size', None)
diff --git a/salt/cloud/clouds/gce.py b/salt/cloud/clouds/gce.py
index dbd51e6c1fa7..d29d2cea99c5 100644
--- a/salt/cloud/clouds/gce.py
+++ b/salt/cloud/clouds/gce.py
@@ -53,7 +53,6 @@
 import re
 import pprint
 import logging
-import msgpack
 from ast import literal_eval
 from salt.utils.versions import LooseVersion as _LooseVersion
 
@@ -91,6 +90,7 @@
 import salt.utils.cloud
 import salt.utils.files
 import salt.utils.http
+import salt.utils.msgpack
 import salt.config as config
 from salt.cloud.libcloudfuncs import *  # pylint: disable=redefined-builtin,wildcard-import,unused-wildcard-import
 from salt.exceptions import (
@@ -2628,7 +2628,7 @@ def update_pricing(kwargs=None, call=None):
         __opts__['cachedir'], 'gce-pricing.p'
     )
     with salt.utils.files.fopen(outfile, 'w') as fho:
-        msgpack.dump(price_json['dict'], fho)
+        salt.utils.msgpack.dump(price_json['dict'], fho)
 
     return True
 
@@ -2667,7 +2667,7 @@ def show_pricing(kwargs=None, call=None):
         update_pricing()
 
     with salt.utils.files.fopen(pricefile, 'r') as fho:
-        sizes = msgpack.load(fho)
+        sizes = salt.utils.msgpack.load(fho)
 
     per_hour = float(sizes['gcp_price_list'][size][region])
 
diff --git a/salt/engines/stalekey.py b/salt/engines/stalekey.py
index f927a25049bf..7b27d1733de1 100644
--- a/salt/engines/stalekey.py
+++ b/salt/engines/stalekey.py
@@ -28,11 +28,11 @@
 import salt.key
 import salt.utils.files
 import salt.utils.minions
+import salt.utils.msgpack
 import salt.wheel
 
 # Import 3rd-party libs
 from salt.ext import six
-import msgpack
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ def start(interval=3600, expire=604800):
         if os.path.exists(presence_file):
             try:
                 with salt.utils.files.fopen(presence_file, 'r') as f:
-                    minions = msgpack.load(f)
+                    minions = salt.utils.msgpack.load(f)
             except IOError as e:
                 log.error('Could not open presence file %s: %s', presence_file, e)
                 time.sleep(interval)
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ def start(interval=3600, expire=604800):
 
         try:
             with salt.utils.files.fopen(presence_file, 'w') as f:
-                msgpack.dump(minions, f)
+                salt.utils.msgpack.dump(minions, f)
         except IOError as e:
             log.error('Could not write to presence file %s: %s', presence_file, e)
         time.sleep(interval)
diff --git a/salt/key.py b/salt/key.py
index 03d3d7257685..06f64cf62795 100644
--- a/salt/key.py
+++ b/salt/key.py
@@ -38,9 +38,10 @@
 from salt.ext.six.moves import input, zip_longest
 # pylint: enable=import-error,no-name-in-module,redefined-builtin
 
-# Import third party libs
+# We do not always need msgpack, so we do not want to fail here if msgpack is
+# not available.
 try:
-    import msgpack
+    import salt.utils.msgpack
 except ImportError:
     pass
 
@@ -1044,7 +1045,7 @@ def check_minion_cache(self, preserve_minions=False):
                     if ext == '.json':
                         data = salt.utils.json.load(fp_)
                     elif ext == '.msgpack':
-                        data = msgpack.load(fp_)
+                        data = salt.utils.msgpack.load(fp_)
                     role = salt.utils.stringutils.to_unicode(data['role'])
                     if role not in minions:
                         os.remove(path)
diff --git a/salt/log/handlers/fluent_mod.py b/salt/log/handlers/fluent_mod.py
index e09f23bbc53f..6508c1231dfe 100644
--- a/salt/log/handlers/fluent_mod.py
+++ b/salt/log/handlers/fluent_mod.py
@@ -96,14 +96,17 @@
 try:
     # Attempt to import msgpack
     import msgpack
+    import salt.utils.msgpack
     # There is a serialization issue on ARM and potentially other platforms
     # for some msgpack bindings, check for it
     if msgpack.loads(msgpack.dumps([1, 2, 3]), use_list=True) is None:
         raise ImportError
+    import salt.utils.msgpack
 except ImportError:
     # Fall back to msgpack_pure
     try:
         import msgpack_pure as msgpack
+        import salt.utils.msgpack
     except ImportError:
         # TODO: Come up with a sane way to get a configured logfile
         #       and write to the logfile when this error is hit also
@@ -455,7 +458,7 @@ def _make_packet(self, label, timestamp, data):
         packet = (tag, timestamp, data)
         if self.verbose:
             print(packet)
-        return msgpack.packb(packet)
+        return salt.utils.msgpack.packb(packet, _msgpack_module=msgpack)
 
     def _send(self, bytes_):
         self.lock.acquire()
diff --git a/salt/modules/saltcheck.py b/salt/modules/saltcheck.py
index e4801d6a4e91..e5c02f1ef623 100644
--- a/salt/modules/saltcheck.py
+++ b/salt/modules/saltcheck.py
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@
 import logging
 import os
 import time
-from json import loads, dumps
+from salt.utils.json import loads, dumps
 
 # Import Salt libs
 import salt.utils.files
diff --git a/salt/modules/state.py b/salt/modules/state.py
index 0bfd2f943290..dd04300f80f9 100644
--- a/salt/modules/state.py
+++ b/salt/modules/state.py
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
 import salt.utils.hashutils
 import salt.utils.jid
 import salt.utils.json
+import salt.utils.msgpack
 import salt.utils.platform
 import salt.utils.state
 import salt.utils.stringutils
@@ -44,7 +45,6 @@
 
 # Import 3rd-party libs
 from salt.ext import six
-import msgpack
 
 __proxyenabled__ = ['*']
 
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ def _get_pause(jid, state_id=None):
             data[state_id] = {}
     if os.path.exists(pause_path):
         with salt.utils.files.fopen(pause_path, 'rb') as fp_:
-            data = msgpack.loads(fp_.read())
+            data = salt.utils.msgpack.loads(fp_.read())
     return data, pause_path
 
 
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ def soft_kill(jid, state_id=None):
     data, pause_path = _get_pause(jid, state_id)
     data[state_id]['kill'] = True
     with salt.utils.files.fopen(pause_path, 'wb') as fp_:
-        fp_.write(msgpack.dumps(data))
+        fp_.write(salt.utils.msgpack.dumps(data))
 
 
 def pause(jid, state_id=None, duration=None):
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ def pause(jid, state_id=None, duration=None):
     if duration:
         data[state_id]['duration'] = int(duration)
     with salt.utils.files.fopen(pause_path, 'wb') as fp_:
-        fp_.write(msgpack.dumps(data))
+        fp_.write(salt.utils.msgpack.dumps(data))
 
 
 def resume(jid, state_id=None):
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ def resume(jid, state_id=None):
     if state_id == '__all__':
         data = {}
     with salt.utils.files.fopen(pause_path, 'wb') as fp_:
-        fp_.write(msgpack.dumps(data))
+        fp_.write(salt.utils.msgpack.dumps(data))
 
 
 def orchestrate(mods,
diff --git a/salt/modules/win_repo.py b/salt/modules/win_repo.py
index c0a9dde4536d..21f35164df07 100644
--- a/salt/modules/win_repo.py
+++ b/salt/modules/win_repo.py
@@ -31,11 +31,8 @@
     PER_REMOTE_ONLY
 )
 from salt.ext import six
-try:
-    import msgpack
-except ImportError:
-    import msgpack_pure as msgpack  # pylint: disable=import-error
 import salt.utils.gitfs
+import salt.utils.msgpack
 # pylint: enable=unused-import
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
diff --git a/salt/payload.py b/salt/payload.py
index 5df6458b861a..aa6b8f8792d9 100644
--- a/salt/payload.py
+++ b/salt/payload.py
@@ -55,6 +55,10 @@
         #sys.exit(salt.defaults.exitcodes.EX_GENERIC)
 
 
+if HAS_MSGPACK:
+    import salt.utils.msgpack
+
+
 if HAS_MSGPACK and not hasattr(msgpack, 'exceptions'):
     class PackValueError(Exception):
         '''
@@ -75,14 +79,15 @@ def package(payload):
     This method for now just wraps msgpack.dumps, but it is here so that
     we can make the serialization a custom option in the future with ease.
     '''
-    return msgpack.dumps(payload)
+    return salt.utils.msgpack.dumps(payload, _msgpack_module=msgpack)
 
 
 def unpackage(package_):
     '''
     Unpackages a payload
     '''
-    return msgpack.loads(package_, use_list=True)
+    return salt.utils.msgpack.loads(package_, use_list=True,
+                                    _msgpack_module=msgpack)
 
 
 def format_payload(enc, **kwargs):
@@ -142,12 +147,17 @@ def ext_type_decoder(code, data):
                 # that under Python 2 we can still work with older versions
                 # of msgpack.
                 try:
-                    ret = msgpack.loads(msg, use_list=True, ext_hook=ext_type_decoder, encoding=encoding)
+                    ret = salt.utils.msgpack.loads(msg, use_list=True,
+                                                   ext_hook=ext_type_decoder,
+                                                   encoding=encoding,
+                                                   _msgpack_module=msgpack)
                 except UnicodeDecodeError:
                     # msg contains binary data
                     ret = msgpack.loads(msg, use_list=True, ext_hook=ext_type_decoder)
             else:
-                ret = msgpack.loads(msg, use_list=True, ext_hook=ext_type_decoder)
+                ret = salt.utils.msgpack.loads(msg, use_list=True,
+                                               ext_hook=ext_type_decoder,
+                                               _msgpack_module=msgpack)
             if six.PY3 and encoding is None and not raw:
                 ret = salt.transport.frame.decode_embedded_strs(ret)
         except Exception as exc:
@@ -214,9 +224,12 @@ def ext_type_encoder(obj):
                 # Due to this, if we don't need it, don't pass it at all so
                 # that under Python 2 we can still work with older versions
                 # of msgpack.
-                return msgpack.dumps(msg, default=ext_type_encoder, use_bin_type=use_bin_type)
+                return salt.utils.msgpack.dumps(msg, default=ext_type_encoder,
+                                                use_bin_type=use_bin_type,
+                                                _msgpack_module=msgpack)
             else:
-                return msgpack.dumps(msg, default=ext_type_encoder)
+                return salt.utils.msgpack.dumps(msg, default=ext_type_encoder,
+                                                _msgpack_module=msgpack)
         except (OverflowError, msgpack.exceptions.PackValueError):
             # msgpack<=0.4.6 don't call ext encoder on very long integers raising the error instead.
             # Convert any very long longs to strings and call dumps again.
@@ -239,9 +252,12 @@ def verylong_encoder(obj):
 
             msg = verylong_encoder(msg)
             if msgpack.version >= (0, 4, 0):
-                return msgpack.dumps(msg, default=ext_type_encoder, use_bin_type=use_bin_type)
+                return salt.utils.msgpack.dumps(msg, default=ext_type_encoder,
+                                                use_bin_type=use_bin_type,
+                                                _msgpack_module=msgpack)
             else:
-                return msgpack.dumps(msg, default=ext_type_encoder)
+                return salt.utils.msgpack.dumps(msg, default=ext_type_encoder,
+                                                _msgpack_module=msgpack)
 
     def dump(self, msg, fn_):
         '''
diff --git a/salt/renderers/msgpack.py b/salt/renderers/msgpack.py
index f58d11b85b8d..eceac4f53bb5 100644
--- a/salt/renderers/msgpack.py
+++ b/salt/renderers/msgpack.py
@@ -1,10 +1,8 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 from __future__ import absolute_import, print_function, unicode_literals
 
-# Import third party libs
-import msgpack
-
 # Import salt libs
+import salt.utils.msgpack
 from salt.ext import six
 
 
@@ -28,4 +26,4 @@ def render(msgpack_data, saltenv='base', sls='', **kws):
         msgpack_data = msgpack_data[(msgpack_data.find('\n') + 1):]
     if not msgpack_data.strip():
         return {}
-    return msgpack.loads(msgpack_data)
+    return salt.utils.msgpack.loads(msgpack_data)
diff --git a/salt/returners/local_cache.py b/salt/returners/local_cache.py
index 6799730877be..721bd70045e6 100644
--- a/salt/returners/local_cache.py
+++ b/salt/returners/local_cache.py
@@ -20,11 +20,11 @@
 import salt.utils.files
 import salt.utils.jid
 import salt.utils.minions
+import salt.utils.msgpack
 import salt.utils.stringutils
 import salt.exceptions
 
 # Import 3rd-party libs
-import msgpack
 from salt.ext import six
 from salt.ext.six.moves import range  # pylint: disable=import-error,redefined-builtin
 
@@ -514,7 +514,7 @@ def save_reg(data):
             raise
     try:
         with salt.utils.files.fopen(regfile, 'a') as fh_:
-            msgpack.dump(data, fh_)
+            salt.utils.msgpack.dump(data, fh_)
     except:
         log.error('Could not write to msgpack file %s', __opts__['outdir'])
         raise
@@ -528,7 +528,7 @@ def load_reg():
     regfile = os.path.join(reg_dir, 'register')
     try:
         with salt.utils.files.fopen(regfile, 'r') as fh_:
-            return msgpack.load(fh_)
+            return salt.utils.msgpack.load(fh_)
     except:
         log.error('Could not write to msgpack file %s', __opts__['outdir'])
         raise
diff --git a/salt/runners/winrepo.py b/salt/runners/winrepo.py
index 480a3138b66b..321b91638eb8 100644
--- a/salt/runners/winrepo.py
+++ b/salt/runners/winrepo.py
@@ -12,15 +12,12 @@
 
 # Import third party libs
 from salt.ext import six
-try:
-    import msgpack
-except ImportError:
-    import msgpack_pure as msgpack  # pylint: disable=import-error
 
 # Import salt libs
 from salt.exceptions import CommandExecutionError, SaltRenderError
 import salt.utils.files
 import salt.utils.gitfs
+import salt.utils.msgpack
 import salt.utils.path
 import logging
 import salt.minion
@@ -124,7 +121,7 @@ def genrepo(opts=None, fire_event=True):
                     ret.setdefault('name_map', {}).update(revmap)
     with salt.utils.files.fopen(
             os.path.join(winrepo_dir, winrepo_cachefile), 'w+b') as repo:
-        repo.write(msgpack.dumps(ret))
+        repo.write(salt.utils.msgpack.dumps(ret))
     return ret
 
 
diff --git a/salt/sdb/sqlite3.py b/salt/sdb/sqlite3.py
index 540a289d56ae..006d574c283b 100644
--- a/salt/sdb/sqlite3.py
+++ b/salt/sdb/sqlite3.py
@@ -54,11 +54,9 @@
     HAS_SQLITE3 = False
 
 # Import salt libs
+import salt.utils.msgpack
 from salt.ext import six
 
-# Import third party libs
-import msgpack
-
 
 DEFAULT_TABLE = 'sdb'
 
@@ -126,9 +124,9 @@ def set_(key, value, profile=None):
         return False
     conn, cur, table = _connect(profile)
     if six.PY2:
-        value = buffer(msgpack.packb(value))
+        value = buffer(salt.utils.msgpack.packb(value))
     else:
-        value = memoryview(msgpack.packb(value))
+        value = memoryview(salt.utils.msgpack.packb(value))
     q = profile.get('set_query', ('INSERT OR REPLACE INTO {0} VALUES '
                                   '(:key, :value)').format(table))
     conn.execute(q, {'key': key, 'value': value})
@@ -149,4 +147,4 @@ def get(key, profile=None):
     res = res.fetchone()
     if not res:
         return None
-    return msgpack.unpackb(res[0])
+    return salt.utils.msgpack.unpackb(res[0])
diff --git a/salt/serializers/msgpack.py b/salt/serializers/msgpack.py
index f55fa878b669..90df192ee3c6 100644
--- a/salt/serializers/msgpack.py
+++ b/salt/serializers/msgpack.py
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 try:
     # Attempt to import msgpack
     import msgpack
+    import salt.utils.msgpack
     # There is a serialization issue on ARM and potentially other platforms
     # for some msgpack bindings, check for it
     if msgpack.loads(msgpack.dumps([1, 2, 3]), use_list=True) is None:
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@
     # Fall back to msgpack_pure
     try:
         import msgpack_pure as msgpack  # pylint: disable=import-error
+        import salt.utils.msgpack
     except ImportError:
         # TODO: Come up with a sane way to get a configured logfile
         #       and write to the logfile when this error is hit also
@@ -60,7 +62,8 @@ def _deserialize(stream_or_string, **options):
 
     def _serialize(obj, **options):
         try:
-            return msgpack.dumps(obj, **options)
+            return salt.utils.msgpack.dumps(obj, _msgpack_module=msgpack,
+                                            **options)
         except Exception as error:
             raise SerializationError(error)
 
@@ -68,7 +71,9 @@ def _deserialize(stream_or_string, **options):
         try:
             options.setdefault('use_list', True)
             options.setdefault('encoding', 'utf-8')
-            return msgpack.loads(stream_or_string, **options)
+            return salt.utils.msgpack.loads(stream_or_string,
+                                            _msgpack_module=msgpack,
+                                            **options)
         except Exception as error:
             raise DeserializationError(error)
 
@@ -95,14 +100,16 @@ def _decoder(obj):
     def _serialize(obj, **options):
         try:
             obj = _encoder(obj)
-            return msgpack.dumps(obj, **options)
+            return salt.utils.msgpack.dumps(obj, _msgpack_module=msgpack,
+                                            **options)
         except Exception as error:
             raise SerializationError(error)
 
     def _deserialize(stream_or_string, **options):
         options.setdefault('use_list', True)
         try:
-            obj = msgpack.loads(stream_or_string)
+            obj = salt.utils.msgpack.loads(stream_or_string,
+                                           _msgpack_module=msgpack)
             return _decoder(obj)
         except Exception as error:
             raise DeserializationError(error)
diff --git a/salt/state.py b/salt/state.py
index 80f40f5e6711..be1821093311 100644
--- a/salt/state.py
+++ b/salt/state.py
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
 import salt.utils.event
 import salt.utils.files
 import salt.utils.immutabletypes as immutabletypes
+import salt.utils.msgpack as msgpack
 import salt.utils.platform
 import salt.utils.process
 import salt.utils.url
@@ -54,7 +55,6 @@
 import salt.utils.yamlloader as yamlloader
 
 # Import third party libs
-import msgpack
 # pylint: disable=import-error,no-name-in-module,redefined-builtin
 from salt.ext import six
 from salt.ext.six.moves import map, range, reload_module
diff --git a/salt/states/netsnmp.py b/salt/states/netsnmp.py
index 9bafffefbc93..7fcdf6fc4132 100644
--- a/salt/states/netsnmp.py
+++ b/salt/states/netsnmp.py
@@ -23,9 +23,8 @@
 import logging
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
-from json import loads, dumps
-
 # salt lib
+from salt.utils.json import loads, dumps
 from salt.ext import six
 # import NAPALM utils
 import salt.utils.napalm
diff --git a/salt/states/netusers.py b/salt/states/netusers.py
index 58b3751c6b74..f4ff648fbfdd 100644
--- a/salt/states/netusers.py
+++ b/salt/states/netusers.py
@@ -25,9 +25,9 @@
 
 # Python std lib
 from copy import deepcopy
-from json import loads, dumps
 
 # salt lib
+from salt.utils.json import loads, dumps
 from salt.ext import six
 # import NAPALM utils
 import salt.utils.napalm
diff --git a/salt/states/pkg.py b/salt/states/pkg.py
index eed114d9cec4..07178871aab6 100644
--- a/salt/states/pkg.py
+++ b/salt/states/pkg.py
@@ -135,10 +135,6 @@
     # The following imports are used by the namespaced win_pkg funcs
     # and need to be included in their globals.
     # pylint: disable=import-error,unused-import
-    try:
-        import msgpack
-    except ImportError:
-        import msgpack_pure as msgpack
     from salt.utils.versions import LooseVersion
     # pylint: enable=import-error,unused-import
 # pylint: enable=invalid-name
diff --git a/salt/states/probes.py b/salt/states/probes.py
index e621fb353606..f79eeb71d027 100644
--- a/salt/states/probes.py
+++ b/salt/states/probes.py
@@ -25,9 +25,9 @@
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 from copy import deepcopy
-from json import loads, dumps
 
 # salt modules
+from salt.utils.json import loads, dumps
 from salt.ext import six
 # import NAPALM utils
 import salt.utils.napalm
diff --git a/salt/states/zabbix_host.py b/salt/states/zabbix_host.py
index 85f0b322efda..85e173bf2f71 100644
--- a/salt/states/zabbix_host.py
+++ b/salt/states/zabbix_host.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 
 '''
 from __future__ import absolute_import, print_function, unicode_literals
-from json import loads, dumps
+from salt.utils.json import loads, dumps
 from copy import deepcopy
 from salt.ext import six
 
diff --git a/salt/states/zabbix_user.py b/salt/states/zabbix_user.py
index 519d236290ad..e6dd2eb90c2e 100644
--- a/salt/states/zabbix_user.py
+++ b/salt/states/zabbix_user.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 
 # Import Python libs
 from __future__ import absolute_import, print_function, unicode_literals
-from json import loads, dumps
+from salt.utils.json import loads, dumps
 from copy import deepcopy
 
 # Import Salt libs
diff --git a/salt/transport/frame.py b/salt/transport/frame.py
index 33d0c0d91703..88b595184ec7 100644
--- a/salt/transport/frame.py
+++ b/salt/transport/frame.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 '''
 # Import python libs
 from __future__ import absolute_import, print_function, unicode_literals
-import msgpack
+import salt.utils.msgpack
 from salt.ext import six
 
 
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ def frame_msg(body, header=None, raw_body=False):  # pylint: disable=unused-argu
 
     framed_msg['head'] = header
     framed_msg['body'] = body
-    return msgpack.dumps(framed_msg)
+    return salt.utils.msgpack.dumps(framed_msg)
 
 
 def frame_msg_ipc(body, header=None, raw_body=False):  # pylint: disable=unused-argument
@@ -35,9 +35,9 @@ def frame_msg_ipc(body, header=None, raw_body=False):  # pylint: disable=unused-
     framed_msg['head'] = header
     framed_msg['body'] = body
     if six.PY2:
-        return msgpack.dumps(framed_msg)
+        return salt.utils.msgpack.dumps(framed_msg)
     else:
-        return msgpack.dumps(framed_msg, use_bin_type=True)
+        return salt.utils.msgpack.dumps(framed_msg, use_bin_type=True)
 
 
 def _decode_embedded_list(src):
diff --git a/salt/transport/ipc.py b/salt/transport/ipc.py
index f1f844bca02b..84f87928b71b 100644
--- a/salt/transport/ipc.py
+++ b/salt/transport/ipc.py
@@ -10,9 +10,6 @@
 import weakref
 import time
 
-# Import 3rd-party libs
-import msgpack
-
 # Import Tornado libs
 import tornado
 import tornado.gen
@@ -24,6 +21,7 @@
 # Import Salt libs
 import salt.transport.client
 import salt.transport.frame
+import salt.utils.msgpack as msgpack
 from salt.ext import six
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
diff --git a/salt/transport/tcp.py b/salt/transport/tcp.py
index 598ea07a8b5d..9450ee0ad93e 100644
--- a/salt/transport/tcp.py
+++ b/salt/transport/tcp.py
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@
 from __future__ import absolute_import, print_function, unicode_literals
 import errno
 import logging
-import msgpack
 import socket
 import os
 import weakref
@@ -22,6 +21,7 @@
 import salt.utils.asynchronous
 import salt.utils.event
 import salt.utils.files
+import salt.utils.msgpack as msgpack
 import salt.utils.platform
 import salt.utils.process
 import salt.utils.verify
diff --git a/salt/utils/cache.py b/salt/utils/cache.py
index 6581af9f870d..adf34fb8f074 100644
--- a/salt/utils/cache.py
+++ b/salt/utils/cache.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 import time
 import logging
 try:
-    import msgpack
+    import salt.utils.msgpack
     HAS_MSGPACK = True
 except ImportError:
     HAS_MSGPACK = False
@@ -139,7 +139,9 @@ def _read(self):
         if not HAS_MSGPACK or not os.path.exists(self._path):
             return
         with salt.utils.files.fopen(self._path, 'rb') as fp_:
-            cache = salt.utils.data.decode(msgpack.load(fp_, encoding=__salt_system_encoding__))
+            cache = salt.utils.data.decode(
+                salt.utils.msgpack.load(
+                    fp_, encoding=__salt_system_encoding__))
         if "CacheDisk_cachetime" in cache:  # new format
             self._dict = cache["CacheDisk_data"]
             self._key_cache_time = cache["CacheDisk_cachetime"]
@@ -164,7 +166,7 @@ def _write(self):
                 "CacheDisk_data": self._dict,
                 "CacheDisk_cachetime": self._key_cache_time
             }
-            msgpack.dump(cache, fp_, use_bin_type=True)
+            salt.utils.msgpack.dump(cache, fp_, use_bin_type=True)
 
 
 class CacheCli(object):
diff --git a/salt/utils/cloud.py b/salt/utils/cloud.py
index c1ee50afa509..64dff483f5e1 100644
--- a/salt/utils/cloud.py
+++ b/salt/utils/cloud.py
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@
 import multiprocessing
 import logging
 import pipes
-import msgpack
 import traceback
 import copy
 import re
@@ -51,6 +50,7 @@
 import salt.utils.data
 import salt.utils.event
 import salt.utils.files
+import salt.utils.msgpack
 import salt.utils.platform
 import salt.utils.stringutils
 import salt.utils.versions
@@ -2510,7 +2510,9 @@ def cachedir_index_add(minion_id, profile, driver, provider, base=None):
     if os.path.exists(index_file):
         mode = 'rb' if six.PY3 else 'r'
         with salt.utils.files.fopen(index_file, mode) as fh_:
-            index = salt.utils.data.decode(msgpack.load(fh_, encoding=MSGPACK_ENCODING))
+            index = salt.utils.data.decode(
+                salt.utils.msgpack.msgpack.load(
+                    fh_, encoding=MSGPACK_ENCODING))
     else:
         index = {}
 
@@ -2527,7 +2529,7 @@ def cachedir_index_add(minion_id, profile, driver, provider, base=None):
 
     mode = 'wb' if six.PY3 else 'w'
     with salt.utils.files.fopen(index_file, mode) as fh_:
-        msgpack.dump(index, fh_, encoding=MSGPACK_ENCODING)
+        salt.utils.msgpack.dump(index, fh_, encoding=MSGPACK_ENCODING)
 
     unlock_file(index_file)
 
@@ -2544,7 +2546,8 @@ def cachedir_index_del(minion_id, base=None):
     if os.path.exists(index_file):
         mode = 'rb' if six.PY3 else 'r'
         with salt.utils.files.fopen(index_file, mode) as fh_:
-            index = salt.utils.data.decode(msgpack.load(fh_, encoding=MSGPACK_ENCODING))
+            index = salt.utils.data.decode(
+                salt.utils.msgpack.load(fh_, encoding=MSGPACK_ENCODING))
     else:
         return
 
@@ -2553,7 +2556,7 @@ def cachedir_index_del(minion_id, base=None):
 
     mode = 'wb' if six.PY3 else 'w'
     with salt.utils.files.fopen(index_file, mode) as fh_:
-        msgpack.dump(index, fh_, encoding=MSGPACK_ENCODING)
+        salt.utils.msgpack.dump(index, fh_, encoding=MSGPACK_ENCODING)
 
     unlock_file(index_file)
 
@@ -2611,7 +2614,7 @@ def request_minion_cachedir(
     path = os.path.join(base, 'requested', fname)
     mode = 'wb' if six.PY3 else 'w'
     with salt.utils.files.fopen(path, mode) as fh_:
-        msgpack.dump(data, fh_, encoding=MSGPACK_ENCODING)
+        salt.utils.msgpack.dump(data, fh_, encoding=MSGPACK_ENCODING)
 
 
 def change_minion_cachedir(
@@ -2643,12 +2646,13 @@ def change_minion_cachedir(
     path = os.path.join(base, cachedir, fname)
 
     with salt.utils.files.fopen(path, 'r') as fh_:
-        cache_data = salt.utils.data.decode(msgpack.load(fh_, encoding=MSGPACK_ENCODING))
+        cache_data = salt.utils.data.decode(
+            salt.utils.msgpack.load(fh_, encoding=MSGPACK_ENCODING))
 
     cache_data.update(data)
 
     with salt.utils.files.fopen(path, 'w') as fh_:
-        msgpack.dump(cache_data, fh_, encoding=MSGPACK_ENCODING)
+        salt.utils.msgpack.dump(cache_data, fh_, encoding=MSGPACK_ENCODING)
 
 
 def activate_minion_cachedir(minion_id, base=None):
@@ -2722,7 +2726,8 @@ def list_cache_nodes_full(opts=None, provider=None, base=None):
                 minion_id = fname[:-2]  # strip '.p' from end of msgpack filename
                 mode = 'rb' if six.PY3 else 'r'
                 with salt.utils.files.fopen(fpath, mode) as fh_:
-                    minions[driver][prov][minion_id] = salt.utils.data.decode(msgpack.load(fh_, encoding=MSGPACK_ENCODING))
+                    minions[driver][prov][minion_id] = salt.utils.data.decode(
+                        salt.utils.msgpack.load(fh_, encoding=MSGPACK_ENCODING))
 
     return minions
 
@@ -2899,7 +2904,7 @@ def cache_node_list(nodes, provider, opts):
         path = os.path.join(prov_dir, '{0}.p'.format(node))
         mode = 'wb' if six.PY3 else 'w'
         with salt.utils.files.fopen(path, mode) as fh_:
-            msgpack.dump(nodes[node], fh_, encoding=MSGPACK_ENCODING)
+            salt.utils.msgpack.dump(nodes[node], fh_, encoding=MSGPACK_ENCODING)
 
 
 def cache_node(node, provider, opts):
@@ -2925,7 +2930,7 @@ def cache_node(node, provider, opts):
     path = os.path.join(prov_dir, '{0}.p'.format(node['name']))
     mode = 'wb' if six.PY3 else 'w'
     with salt.utils.files.fopen(path, mode) as fh_:
-        msgpack.dump(node, fh_, encoding=MSGPACK_ENCODING)
+        salt.utils.msgpack.dump(node, fh_, encoding=MSGPACK_ENCODING)
 
 
 def missing_node_cache(prov_dir, node_list, provider, opts):
@@ -3000,7 +3005,8 @@ def diff_node_cache(prov_dir, node, new_data, opts):
 
     with salt.utils.files.fopen(path, 'r') as fh_:
         try:
-            cache_data = salt.utils.data.decode(msgpack.load(fh_, encoding=MSGPACK_ENCODING))
+            cache_data = salt.utils.data.decode(
+                salt.utils.msgpack.load(fh_, encoding=MSGPACK_ENCODING))
         except ValueError:
             log.warning('Cache for %s was corrupt: Deleting', node)
             cache_data = {}
diff --git a/salt/utils/http.py b/salt/utils/http.py
index ee511d37fed4..97d25db9ba99 100644
--- a/salt/utils/http.py
+++ b/salt/utils/http.py
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@
     HAS_REQUESTS = False
 
 try:
-    import msgpack
+    import salt.utils.msgpack
     HAS_MSGPACK = True
 except ImportError:
     HAS_MSGPACK = False
@@ -274,12 +274,12 @@ def query(url,
         # contain expirations, they can't be stored in a proper cookie jar.
         if os.path.isfile(session_cookie_jar):
             with salt.utils.files.fopen(session_cookie_jar, 'rb') as fh_:
-                session_cookies = msgpack.load(fh_)
+                session_cookies = salt.utils.msgpack.load(fh_)
             if isinstance(session_cookies, dict):
                 header_dict.update(session_cookies)
         else:
             with salt.utils.files.fopen(session_cookie_jar, 'wb') as fh_:
-                msgpack.dump('', fh_)
+                salt.utils.msgpack.dump('', fh_)
 
     for header in header_list:
         comps = header.split(':')
@@ -630,9 +630,9 @@ def query(url,
             with salt.utils.files.fopen(session_cookie_jar, 'wb') as fh_:
                 session_cookies = result_headers.get('set-cookie', None)
                 if session_cookies is not None:
-                    msgpack.dump({'Cookie': session_cookies}, fh_)
+                    salt.utils.msgpack.dump({'Cookie': session_cookies}, fh_)
                 else:
-                    msgpack.dump('', fh_)
+                    salt.utils.msgpack.dump('', fh_)
 
     if status is True:
         ret['status'] = result_status_code
diff --git a/salt/utils/msgpack.py b/salt/utils/msgpack.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..7e66cb8ed739
--- /dev/null
+++ b/salt/utils/msgpack.py
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+'''
+Functions to work with MessagePack
+'''
+
+from __future__ import absolute_import
+
+# Import Python libs
+try:
+    # Attempt to import msgpack
+    import msgpack
+except ImportError:
+    # Fall back to msgpack_pure
+    import msgpack_pure as msgpack  # pylint: disable=import-error
+
+
+def pack(o, stream, **kwargs):
+    '''
+    .. versionadded:: 2018.3.4
+
+    Wraps msgpack.pack and ensures that the passed object is unwrapped if it is
+    a proxy.
+
+    By default, this function uses the msgpack module and falls back to
+    msgpack_pure, if the msgpack is not available. You can pass an alternate
+    msgpack module using the _msgpack_module argument.
+    '''
+    msgpack_module = kwargs.pop('_msgpack_module', msgpack)
+    return msgpack_module.pack(o, stream, **kwargs)
+
+
+def packb(o, **kwargs):
+    '''
+    .. versionadded:: 2018.3.4
+
+    Wraps msgpack.packb and ensures that the passed object is unwrapped if it
+    is a proxy.
+
+    By default, this function uses the msgpack module and falls back to
+    msgpack_pure, if the msgpack is not available. You can pass an alternate
+    msgpack module using the _msgpack_module argument.
+    '''
+    msgpack_module = kwargs.pop('_msgpack_module', msgpack)
+    return msgpack_module.packb(o, **kwargs)
+
+
+def unpack(stream, **kwargs):
+    '''
+    .. versionadded:: 2018.3.4
+
+    Wraps msgpack.unpack.
+
+    By default, this function uses the msgpack module and falls back to
+    msgpack_pure, if the msgpack is not available. You can pass an alternate
+    msgpack module using the _msgpack_module argument.
+    '''
+    msgpack_module = kwargs.pop('_msgpack_module', msgpack)
+    return msgpack_module.unpack(stream, **kwargs)
+
+
+def unpackb(packed, **kwargs):
+    '''
+    .. versionadded:: 2018.3.4
+
+    Wraps msgpack.unpack.
+
+    By default, this function uses the msgpack module and falls back to
+    msgpack_pure, if the msgpack is not available. You can pass an alternate
+    msgpack module using the _msgpack_module argument.
+    '''
+    msgpack_module = kwargs.pop('_msgpack_module', msgpack)
+    return msgpack_module.unpackb(packed, **kwargs)
+
+
+# alias for compatibility to simplejson/marshal/pickle.
+load = unpack
+loads = unpackb
+
+dump = pack
+dumps = packb
diff --git a/tests/integration/__init__.py b/tests/integration/__init__.py
index e706802aa74c..3373f87602cb 100644
--- a/tests/integration/__init__.py
+++ b/tests/integration/__init__.py
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@
 import salt.version
 import salt.utils.color
 import salt.utils.files
+import salt.utils.msgpack as msgpack
 import salt.utils.path
 import salt.utils.platform
 import salt.utils.process
@@ -68,7 +69,6 @@
     pass
 
 # Import 3rd-party libs
-import msgpack
 from salt.ext import six
 from salt.ext.six.moves import cStringIO
 
diff --git a/tests/integration/files/log_handlers/runtests_log_handler.py b/tests/integration/files/log_handlers/runtests_log_handler.py
index 983447d97ae6..2269c063ff83 100644
--- a/tests/integration/files/log_handlers/runtests_log_handler.py
+++ b/tests/integration/files/log_handlers/runtests_log_handler.py
@@ -19,10 +19,8 @@
 import threading
 from multiprocessing import Queue
 
-# Import 3rd-party libs
-import msgpack
-
 # Import Salt libs
+import salt.utils.msgpack
 from salt.ext import six
 import salt.log.setup
 
@@ -85,7 +83,8 @@ def process_queue(port, queue):
                 break
             # Just log everything, filtering will happen on the main process
             # logging handlers
-            sock.sendall(msgpack.dumps(record.__dict__, encoding='utf-8'))
+            sock.sendall(salt.utils.msgpack.dumps(record.__dict__,
+                                                  encoding='utf-8'))
         except (IOError, EOFError, KeyboardInterrupt, SystemExit):
             sock.shutdown(socket.SHUT_RDWR)
             sock.close()
diff --git a/tests/packdump.py b/tests/packdump.py
index 92ed79de29bc..5a230eed946f 100644
--- a/tests/packdump.py
+++ b/tests/packdump.py
@@ -9,8 +9,8 @@
 import sys
 import pprint
 
-# Import third party libs
-import msgpack
+# Import Salt libs
+import salt.utils.msgpack
 
 
 def dump(path):
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ def dump(path):
         print('Not a file')
         return
     with open(path, 'rb') as fp_:
-        data = msgpack.loads(fp_.read())
+        data = salt.utils.msgpack.loads(fp_.read())
         pprint.pprint(data)