diff --git a/salt/loader/__init__.py b/salt/loader/__init__.py
index b41cc64b8e..558839e857 100644
--- a/salt/loader/__init__.py
+++ b/salt/loader/__init__.py
@@ -335,6 +335,10 @@ def minion_mods(
         pack_self="__salt__",
     )
 
+    # Allow the usage of salt dunder in utils modules.
+    if utils and isinstance(utils, _LazyLoader):
+        utils.pack["__salt__"] = ret
+
     # Load any provider overrides from the configuration file providers option
     #  Note: Providers can be pkg, service, user or group - not to be confused
     #        with cloud providers.
diff --git a/salt/loader/context.py b/salt/loader/context.py
index cc45441c96..34bf69989d 100644
--- a/salt/loader/context.py
+++ b/salt/loader/context.py
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@
     # Py<3.7
     import contextvars
 
+import salt.exceptions
+
 DEFAULT_CTX_VAR = "loader_ctxvar"
 
 loader_ctxvar = contextvars.ContextVar(DEFAULT_CTX_VAR)
@@ -69,7 +71,12 @@ def value(self):
             return loader.pack[self.name]
         if self.name == loader.pack_self:
             return loader
-        return loader.pack[self.name]
+        try:
+            return loader.pack[self.name]
+        except KeyError:
+            raise salt.exceptions.LoaderError(
+                f"LazyLoader does not have a packed value for: {self.name}"
+            )
 
     def get(self, key, default=None):
         return self.value().get(key, default)
diff --git a/salt/minion.py b/salt/minion.py
index 2ccd0cd5a9..2680ecc1a9 100644
--- a/salt/minion.py
+++ b/salt/minion.py
@@ -1251,6 +1251,7 @@ def __init__(
         self.ready = False
         self.jid_queue = [] if jid_queue is None else jid_queue
         self.periodic_callbacks = {}
+        self.req_channel = None
 
         if io_loop is None:
             self.io_loop = salt.ext.tornado.ioloop.IOLoop.current()
@@ -1361,6 +1362,16 @@ def connect_master(self, failed=False):
         """
         Return a future which will complete when you are connected to a master
         """
+        if hasattr(self, "pub_channel") and self.pub_channel:
+            self.pub_channel.on_recv(None)
+            if hasattr(self.pub_channel, "auth"):
+                self.pub_channel.auth.invalidate()
+            if hasattr(self.pub_channel, "close"):
+                self.pub_channel.close()
+        if hasattr(self, "req_channel") and self.req_channel:
+            self.req_channel.close()
+            self.req_channel = None
+
         master, self.pub_channel = yield self.eval_master(
             self.opts, self.timeout, self.safe, failed
         )
@@ -2775,7 +2786,9 @@ def handle_event(self, package):
                             self.pub_channel.auth.invalidate()
                         if hasattr(self.pub_channel, "close"):
                             self.pub_channel.close()
-                        del self.pub_channel
+                    if hasattr(self, "req_channel") and self.req_channel:
+                        self.req_channel.close()
+                        self.req_channel = None
 
                     # if eval_master finds a new master for us, self.connected
                     # will be True again on successful master authentication
@@ -3210,6 +3223,9 @@ def destroy(self):
             if hasattr(self.pub_channel, "close"):
                 self.pub_channel.close()
             del self.pub_channel
+        if hasattr(self, "req_channel") and self.req_channel:
+            self.req_channel.close()
+            self.req_channel = None
         if hasattr(self, "periodic_callbacks"):
             for cb in self.periodic_callbacks.values():
                 cb.stop()
diff --git a/salt/utils/azurearm.py b/salt/utils/azurearm.py
index 276cbb66b3..9ae128273c 100644
--- a/salt/utils/azurearm.py
+++ b/salt/utils/azurearm.py
@@ -47,8 +47,6 @@
 except ImportError:
     HAS_AZURE = False
 
-__opts__ = salt.config.minion_config("/etc/salt/minion")
-__salt__ = salt.loader.minion_mods(__opts__)
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
diff --git a/salt/utils/vault.py b/salt/utils/vault.py
index cbd2aec2b0..07fcf3929b 100644
--- a/salt/utils/vault.py
+++ b/salt/utils/vault.py
@@ -36,8 +36,9 @@ def __virtual__():
             logging.getLogger("requests").setLevel(logging.WARNING)
             return True
     except Exception as e:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
-        log.error("Could not load __salt__: %s", e)
+        log.error("Could not load __salt__: %s", e, exc_info=True)
         return False
+    return True
 
 
 def _get_token_and_url_from_master():
diff --git a/tests/pytests/integration/cli/test_matcher.py b/tests/pytests/integration/cli/test_matcher.py
index 6b3b21bbaa..ecd9e31265 100644
--- a/tests/pytests/integration/cli/test_matcher.py
+++ b/tests/pytests/integration/cli/test_matcher.py
@@ -506,7 +506,9 @@ def test_salt_documentation(salt_cli, salt_minion):
     """
     Test to see if we're supporting --doc
     """
-    ret = salt_cli.run("-d", "test", minion_tgt=salt_minion.id)
+    # Setting an explicity long timeout otherwise this test may fail when the
+    # system is under load.
+    ret = salt_cli.run("-d", "test", minion_tgt=salt_minion.id, _timeout=90)
     assert ret.returncode == 0
     assert "test.ping" in ret.data
 
diff --git a/tests/pytests/integration/minion/test_return_retries.py b/tests/pytests/integration/minion/test_return_retries.py
index a7f5eaeff1..cd67b0b25d 100644
--- a/tests/pytests/integration/minion/test_return_retries.py
+++ b/tests/pytests/integration/minion/test_return_retries.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ def salt_minion_retry(salt_master_factory, salt_minion_id):
 @pytest.mark.slow_test
 def test_publish_retry(salt_master, salt_minion_retry, salt_cli, salt_run_cli):
     # run job that takes some time for warmup
-    rtn = salt_cli.run("test.sleep", "5", "--async", minion_tgt=salt_minion_retry.id)
+    rtn = salt_cli.run("test.sleep", "3.5", "--async", minion_tgt=salt_minion_retry.id)
     # obtain JID
     jid = rtn.stdout.strip().split(" ")[-1]
 
diff --git a/tests/pytests/scenarios/multimaster/beacons/test_inotify.py b/tests/pytests/scenarios/multimaster/beacons/test_inotify.py
index c16384d7b6..16babf1cf7 100644
--- a/tests/pytests/scenarios/multimaster/beacons/test_inotify.py
+++ b/tests/pytests/scenarios/multimaster/beacons/test_inotify.py
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ def setup_beacons(mm_master_1_salt_cli, salt_mm_minion_1, inotify_test_path):
             "inotify",
             beacon_data=[{"files": {str(inotify_test_path): {"mask": ["create"]}}}],
             minion_tgt=salt_mm_minion_1.id,
+            timeout=60,
         )
         assert ret.returncode == 0
         log.debug("Inotify beacon add returned: %s", ret.data or ret.stdout)
diff --git a/tests/pytests/unit/loader/test_loader.py b/tests/pytests/unit/loader/test_loader.py
index 86348749db..e62fa317bc 100644
--- a/tests/pytests/unit/loader/test_loader.py
+++ b/tests/pytests/unit/loader/test_loader.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 
 import pytest
 
+import salt.exceptions
 import salt.loader
 import salt.loader.lazy
 
@@ -62,3 +63,23 @@ def test_raw_mod_functions():
     ret = salt.loader.raw_mod(opts, "grains", "get")
     for k, v in ret.items():
         assert isinstance(v, salt.loader.lazy.LoadedFunc)
+
+
+def test_named_loader_context_name_not_packed(tmp_path):
+    opts = {
+        "optimization_order": [0],
+    }
+    contents = """
+    from salt.loader.context import LoaderContext
+    loader_context = LoaderContext()
+    __not_packed__ = loader_context.named_context("__not_packed__")
+    def foobar():
+        return __not_packed__["not.packed"]()
+    """
+    with pytest.helpers.temp_file("mymod.py", contents, directory=tmp_path):
+        loader = salt.loader.LazyLoader([tmp_path], opts)
+        with pytest.raises(
+            salt.exceptions.LoaderError,
+            match="LazyLoader does not have a packed value for: __not_packed__",
+        ):
+            loader["mymod.foobar"]()
diff --git a/tests/pytests/unit/loader/test_loading_modules.py b/tests/pytests/unit/loader/test_loading_modules.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..861e9197ec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/pytests/unit/loader/test_loading_modules.py
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+import pytest
+
+import salt.loader
+import salt.loader.lazy
+import salt.modules.boto_vpc
+import salt.modules.virt
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def minion_mods(minion_opts):
+    utils = salt.loader.utils(minion_opts)
+    return salt.loader.minion_mods(minion_opts, utils=utils)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not salt.modules.boto_vpc.HAS_BOTO, reason="boto must be installed."
+)
+def test_load_boto_vpc(minion_mods):
+    func = None
+    try:
+        func = minion_mods["boto_vpc.check_vpc"]
+    except KeyError:
+        pytest.fail("loader should not raise KeyError")
+    assert func is not None
+    assert isinstance(func, salt.loader.lazy.LoadedFunc)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not salt.modules.virt.HAS_LIBVIRT, reason="libvirt-python must be installed."
+)
+def test_load_virt(minion_mods):
+    func = None
+    try:
+        func = minion_mods["virt.ctrl_alt_del"]
+    except KeyError:
+        pytest.fail("loader should not raise KeyError")
+    assert func is not None
+    assert isinstance(func, salt.loader.lazy.LoadedFunc)