diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 37a0630..8cace0b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -130,6 +130,7 @@ jobs:
           bash tests/linux/test_minion_conf_parsing.sh
           bash tests/linux/test_script_opts.sh
           bash tests/linux/test_script_opts_main.sh
+          bash tests/linux/test_onedir_detection.sh
 
       - name: Set Exit Status
         if: always()
diff --git a/.github/workflows/templates/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/templates/ci.yml
index 7caeb36..68660c6 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/templates/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/templates/ci.yml
@@ -130,6 +130,7 @@ jobs:
           bash tests/linux/test_minion_conf_parsing.sh
           bash tests/linux/test_script_opts.sh
           bash tests/linux/test_script_opts_main.sh
+          bash tests/linux/test_onedir_detection.sh
 
       - name: Set Exit Status
         if: always()
diff --git a/linux/svtminion.sh b/linux/svtminion.sh
index f47b06e..156e2b2 100755
--- a/linux/svtminion.sh
+++ b/linux/svtminion.sh
@@ -84,10 +84,6 @@ reconfig
 default
 "
 
-readonly salt_wrapper_file_list="minion
-call
-"
-
 readonly salt_minion_service_wrapper=\
 "# Copyright (c) 2021-2026 Broadcom Inc. All Rights Reserved.
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2
@@ -113,6 +109,8 @@ WantedBy=multi-user.target
 
 # Onedir detection locations
 readonly onedir_post_3005_location="${salt_dir}/salt-minion"
+# pre-3006 layout, can no longer be installed by this script, but is still
+# detected so an existing installation can be reported on and removed
 readonly onedir_pre_3006_location="${salt_dir}/run/run"
 
 declare -a list_of_onedir_locations_check
@@ -1729,7 +1727,9 @@ _check_classic_minion_install() {
 # _check_onedir_minion_install
 #
 #   Checks whether a 'pre_3006' or 'post_3005' onedir salt-minion package is
-#   installed on the OS (e.g., via an RPM or DEB package).
+#   installed on the OS (e.g., via an RPM or DEB package). A 'pre_3006'
+#   installation can no longer be installed by this script, it is detected so
+#   it can still be reported on and removed.
 #
 # Results:
 #   Outputs one of the following status codes to stdout:
@@ -1778,12 +1778,9 @@ _check_onedir_minion_install() {
 _find_salt_pid() {
     # find the pid for salt-minion if active
     local salt_pid=0
-    if [[ ${POST_3005_FLAG} -eq 1 ]]; then
-        salt_pid=$(pgrep -f "\/usr\/bin\/salt-minion" | head -n 1)
-    else
-        salt_pid=$(pgrep -f "${salt_name}\/run\/run minion" | head -n 1 |
-            awk -F " " '{print $1}')
-    fi
+    # 3006 and later runs /usr/bin/salt-minion, pre-3006 onedir runs run/run
+    salt_pid=$(pgrep -f "\/usr\/bin\/salt-minion|${salt_name}\/run\/run minion" |
+        head -n 1)
     _debug_log "$0:${FUNCNAME[0]} checking for salt-minion process id, "\
         "found '${salt_pid}'"
     echo "${salt_pid}"
@@ -1842,63 +1839,6 @@ _ensure_id_or_fqdn () {
 }
 
 
-#
-# _create_pre_3006_helper_scripts
-#
-#   Creates wrapper helper scripts for 'salt-call' and 'salt-minion' in
-#   pre-3006 onedir installations.
-#
-# Example:
-#   _create_pre_3006_helper_scripts
-#
-# Side Effects:
-#   Writes helper scripts for 'salt-call' and 'salt-minion' to the filesystem.
-#
-# Results:
-#   Returns 0 on success, or exits with an error code on failure.
-#
-
-_create_pre_3006_helper_scripts() {
-
-    for idx in ${salt_wrapper_file_list}
-    do
-        local abs_filepath=""
-        abs_filepath="/usr/bin/salt-${idx}"
-
-        _debug_log "$0:${FUNCNAME[0]} creating helper file 'salt-${idx}' "\
-            "in directory /usr/bin"
-
-        echo "#!/usr/bin/env bash
-
-# Copyright (c) 2021-2026 Broadcom Inc. All Rights Reserved.
-" > "${abs_filepath}" || {
-            _error_log "$0:${FUNCNAME[0]} failed to create helper file "\
-                "'salt-${idx}' in directory /usr/bin, retcode '$?'";
-        }
-        {
-            echo -n "exec /opt/saltstack/salt/run/run ${idx}";
-            echo -n "\"$";
-            echo -n "{";
-            echo -n "@";
-            echo -n ":";
-            echo -n "1}";
-            echo -n "\"";
-        } >> "${abs_filepath}" || {
-            _error_log "$0:${FUNCNAME[0]} failed to finish creating helper "\
-                "file 'salt-${idx}' in directory /usr/bin, retcode '$?'";
-        }
-        echo  "" >> "${abs_filepath}"
-
-        # ensure executable
-        chmod 755 "${abs_filepath}" || {
-            _error_log "$0:${FUNCNAME[0]} failed to make helper file "\
-                "'salt-${idx}' executable in directory /usr/bin, retcode '$?'";
-        }
-    done
-
-}
-
-
 #
 # _status_fn
 #
@@ -1942,10 +1882,6 @@ _status_fn() {
         _debug_log "$0:${FUNCNAME[0]} no standardized classic install found"
 
         install_onedir_chk=$(_check_onedir_minion_install)
-        if [[ ${install_onedir_chk} -eq 2 ]]; then
-            POST_3005_FLAG=1    # ensure note 3006 and above
-        fi
-
         svpid=$(_find_salt_pid)
         if [[ ${install_onedir_chk} -eq 0 && -z ${svpid} ]]; then
             # not installed and no process id
@@ -2025,10 +1961,6 @@ _stop_fn() {
         _debug_log "$0:${FUNCNAME[0]} no standardized classic install found"
 
         install_onedir_chk=$(_check_onedir_minion_install)
-        if [[ ${install_onedir_chk} -eq 2 ]]; then
-            POST_3005_FLAG=1    # ensure note 3006 and above
-        fi
-
         if [[ ${install_onedir_chk} -eq 0 ]]; then
             # not installed
             CURRENT_STATUS=${STATUS_CODES_ARY[notInstalled]}
@@ -2116,10 +2048,6 @@ _restart_fn() {
         _debug_log "$0:${FUNCNAME[0]} no standardized classic install found"
 
         install_onedir_chk=$(_check_onedir_minion_install)
-        if [[ ${install_onedir_chk} -eq 2 ]]; then
-            POST_3005_FLAG=1    # ensure note 3006 and above
-        fi
-
         if [[ ${install_onedir_chk} -eq 0 ]]; then
             # not installed
             CURRENT_STATUS=${STATUS_CODES_ARY[notInstalled]}
@@ -2374,17 +2302,7 @@ _install_fn () {
             "read configuration for salt-minion";
     fi
 
-    if [[ ${_retn} -eq 0 && -f "${onedir_pre_3006_location}" ]]; then
-        # create helper scripts for /usr/bin to ensure they are present
-        # before attempting to use them in _ensure_id_or_fqdn
-        # this is for earlier than 3006 versions of Salt onedir
-        _debug_log "$0:${FUNCNAME[0]} creating helper files salt-call "\
-            "and salt-minion in directory /usr/bin"
-        _create_pre_3006_helper_scripts || {
-            _error_log "$0:${FUNCNAME[0]} failed to create helper files "\
-                "salt-call or salt-minion in directory /usr/bin, retcode '$?'";
-        }
-    elif [[ ${_retn} -eq 0 && -f "${onedir_post_3005_location}" ]]; then
+    if [[ ${_retn} -eq 0 && -f "${onedir_post_3005_location}" ]]; then
         # create symbolic links for /usr/bin to ensure they are present
         _debug_log "$0:${FUNCNAME[0]} creating symbolic links for salt-call "\
             "and salt-minion in directory /usr/bin"
diff --git a/tests/linux/test_onedir_detection.sh b/tests/linux/test_onedir_detection.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bbd23d2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/linux/test_onedir_detection.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,103 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+#
+# Lightweight, fixture-free regression test for linux/svtminion.sh's detection
+# of an installed onedir salt-minion (_check_onedir_minion_install) and its
+# lookup of the running salt-minion process (_find_salt_pid).
+#
+# The functions under test are extracted verbatim from the real script. The
+# onedir location is redirected to a temporary directory and pgrep is mocked,
+# so this does not need root, a Salt installation or a running minion.
+#
+# Run directly: bash tests/linux/test_onedir_detection.sh
+
+set -o pipefail
+
+_test_dir="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
+_repo_root="$(cd "${_test_dir}/../.." && pwd)"
+_script="${_repo_root}/linux/svtminion.sh"
+
+_work_dir="$(mktemp -d)"
+_extracted="${_work_dir}/extracted.sh"
+trap 'rm -rf "${_work_dir}"' EXIT
+
+_error_log() { echo "ERROR: $*" 1>&2; }
+_info_log() { :; }
+_debug_log() { :; }
+
+# Extract what is under test verbatim from the real script
+for _fn in _check_onedir_minion_install _find_salt_pid; do
+    if ! sed -n "/^${_fn} *() {/,/^}/p" "${_script}" >> "${_extracted}" \
+        || ! grep -q "^${_fn} *() {" "${_extracted}"; then
+        echo "FAILED: unable to extract ${_fn} from ${_script}"
+        exit 1
+    fi
+done
+# shellcheck disable=SC1090
+source "${_extracted}"
+
+# Constants from the real script, with the install location redirected to a
+# temporary directory
+_fake_base="${_work_dir}/opt/saltstack"
+eval "$(grep -E '^(readonly (salt_name|base_salt_location|salt_dir|onedir_[a-z0-9_]+_location)=|declare -a list_of_onedir_locations_check|list_of_onedir_locations_check\[[0-9]+\]=)' \
+    "${_script}" | sed "s|\"/opt/saltstack\"|\"${_fake_base}\"|; s|^readonly ||")"
+
+_failed=0
+
+_assert_eq() {
+    local name="$1" expected="$2" actual="$3"
+    if [[ "${actual}" == "${expected}" ]]; then
+        echo "PASS: ${name}"
+    else
+        echo "FAIL: ${name}: expected '${expected}', got '${actual}'"
+        _failed=1
+    fi
+}
+
+_reset_install() { rm -rf "${_fake_base}"; mkdir -p "${salt_dir}"; }
+
+# --- _check_onedir_minion_install ---
+
+_reset_install
+_assert_eq "no onedir installed returns 0" "0" \
+    "$(_check_onedir_minion_install)"
+
+_reset_install
+touch "${salt_dir}/salt-minion"
+_assert_eq "salt/salt-minion (3006 and later layout) returns 2" "2" \
+    "$(_check_onedir_minion_install)"
+
+_reset_install
+mkdir -p "${salt_dir}/run"
+touch "${salt_dir}/run/run"
+_assert_eq "salt/run/run (pre-3006 layout) is still detected, returns 1" "1" \
+    "$(_check_onedir_minion_install)"
+
+_reset_install
+mkdir -p "${salt_dir}/run"
+touch "${salt_dir}/run/run" "${salt_dir}/salt-minion"
+_assert_eq "both layouts present, run/run takes precedence" "1" \
+    "$(_check_onedir_minion_install)"
+
+# --- _find_salt_pid ---
+
+# mock pgrep: record the pattern searched for, and report a pid
+pgrep() {
+    echo "${2}" > "${_work_dir}/pgrep_pattern"
+    echo "4242"
+}
+
+_assert_eq "minion pid found" "4242" "$(_find_salt_pid)"
+_assert_eq "pid lookup matches /usr/bin/salt-minion" "1" \
+    "$(grep -c -F '\/usr\/bin\/salt-minion' "${_work_dir}/pgrep_pattern")"
+_assert_eq "pid lookup matches salt/run/run minion (pre-3006)" "1" \
+    "$(grep -c -F 'salt\/run\/run minion' "${_work_dir}/pgrep_pattern")"
+
+# no process running
+pgrep() { return 1; }
+_assert_eq "no minion process returns empty" "" "$(_find_salt_pid)"
+
+if [[ ${_failed} -ne 0 ]]; then
+    echo "FAILED"
+    exit 1
+fi
+echo "ALL PASSED"