salt-ssh --output=yaml  '*' pillar.items sysctl
clover:
  retcode: null
  stderr: ''
  stdout: '{"net.ipv4.conf.all.rp_filter": 1, "net.ipv6.conf.eth0.disable_ipv6": 1,
    "net.ipv4.icmp_echo_ignore_broadcasts": 1}'



template file:
{% if pillar['sysctl'] is defined %}
{% for key, value in pillar['sysctl'].iteritems() %}
{{ key }}={{ value }}
{% endfor %}
{% else %}
a,skdjlaksdj
{% endif %}

just goes to else and fills the file with
a,skdjlaksdj