diff --git a/salt/states/file.py b/salt/states/file.py
index 74d5be1d7d49..2e8d9f0fceae 100644
--- a/salt/states/file.py
+++ b/salt/states/file.py
@@ -693,7 +693,8 @@ def _check_directory(name,
                      require=False,
                      exclude_pat=None,
                      max_depth=None,
-                     follow_symlinks=False):
+                     follow_symlinks=False,
+                     children_only=False):
     '''
     Check what changes need to be made on a directory
     '''
@@ -743,10 +744,13 @@ def _check_directory(name,
                     fchange = _check_dir_meta(path, user, group, mode, follow_symlinks)
                     if fchange:
                         changes[path] = fchange
+
     # Recurse skips root (we always do dirs, not root), so always check root:
-    fchange = _check_dir_meta(name, user, group, mode, follow_symlinks)
-    if fchange:
-        changes[name] = fchange
+    if not children_only:
+        fchange = _check_dir_meta(name, user, group, mode, follow_symlinks)
+        if fchange:
+            changes[name] = fchange
+
     if clean:
         keep = _gen_keep_files(name, require, walk_d)
 
@@ -3410,7 +3414,7 @@ def directory(name,
     else:
         presult, pcomment, pchanges = _check_directory(
             name, user, group, recurse or [], dir_mode, file_mode, clean,
-            require, exclude_pat, max_depth, follow_symlinks)
+            require, exclude_pat, max_depth, follow_symlinks, children_only)
 
     if pchanges:
         ret['changes'].update(pchanges)
diff --git a/tests/unit/states/test_file.py b/tests/unit/states/test_file.py
index 23d37dccce59..9df712f4ad29 100644
--- a/tests/unit/states/test_file.py
+++ b/tests/unit/states/test_file.py
@@ -955,6 +955,17 @@ def test_directory(self):
                                                  (name, user=user, group=group),
                                                  ret)
 
+                        recurse = ['mode']
+                        ret.update({'comment': 'The directory {} is in the '
+                                               'correct state'.format(name),
+                                    'changes': {},
+                                    'result': True})
+                        with patch.object(os.path, 'isdir', mock_t):
+                            self.assertDictEqual(filestate.directory
+                                                 (name, user=user, dir_mode=700,
+                                                  recurse=recurse, group=group,
+                                                  children_only=True), ret)
+
     # 'recurse' function tests: 1
 
     def test_recurse(self):