diff --git a/tests/integration/files/file/base/issue-51499.sls b/tests/integration/files/file/base/issue-51499.sls
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..0e15e7396eae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/integration/files/file/base/issue-51499.sls
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+{% if 'nonexistent_module.function' in salt %}
+{% do salt.log.warning("Module is available") %}
+{% endif %}
+always-passes:
+  test.succeed_without_changes:
+    - name: foo
diff --git a/tests/integration/modules/test_state.py b/tests/integration/modules/test_state.py
index d5f20652fb44..59ecc578e0f1 100644
--- a/tests/integration/modules/test_state.py
+++ b/tests/integration/modules/test_state.py
@@ -2118,3 +2118,16 @@ def test_state_sls_integer_name(self):
         self.assertEqual(state_run[state_id]['comment'],
                          'Success!')
         self.assertTrue(state_run[state_id]['result'])
+
+    def test_state_sls_lazyloader_allows_recursion(self):
+        '''
+        This tests that referencing dunders like __salt__ work
+        context: https://github.com/saltstack/salt/pull/51499
+        '''
+        state_run = self.run_function('state.sls', mods='issue-51499')
+
+        state_id = 'test_|-always-passes_|-foo_|-succeed_without_changes'
+        self.assertIn(state_id, state_run)
+        self.assertEqual(state_run[state_id]['comment'],
+                         'Success!')
+        self.assertTrue(state_run[state_id]['result'])