diff --git a/changelog/61816.fixed b/changelog/61816.fixed
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..f45856f2b5e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/61816.fixed
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Made cmdmod._run[_all]_quiet work during minion startup on MacOS with runas specified (which fixed mac_service)
diff --git a/salt/modules/cmdmod.py b/salt/modules/cmdmod.py
index a53b5ed174b..a55afc7d04a 100644
--- a/salt/modules/cmdmod.py
+++ b/salt/modules/cmdmod.py
@@ -443,12 +443,13 @@ def _run(
         # Ensure environment is correct for a newly logged-in user by running
         # the command under bash as a login shell
         try:
-            user_shell = __salt__["user.info"](runas)["shell"]
+            # Do not rely on populated __salt__ dict (ie avoid __salt__['user.info'])
+            user_shell = [x for x in pwd.getpwall() if x.pw_name == runas][0].pw_shell
             if re.search("bash$", user_shell):
                 cmd = "{shell} -l -c {cmd}".format(
                     shell=user_shell, cmd=_cmd_quote(cmd)
                 )
-        except KeyError:
+        except (AttributeError, IndexError):
             pass
 
         # Ensure the login is simulated correctly (note: su runs sh, not bash,
diff --git a/tests/pytests/unit/modules/test_cmdmod.py b/tests/pytests/unit/modules/test_cmdmod.py
index fa7e032bb23..8ba48803665 100644
--- a/tests/pytests/unit/modules/test_cmdmod.py
+++ b/tests/pytests/unit/modules/test_cmdmod.py
@@ -455,11 +455,12 @@ def test_shell_properly_handled_on_macOS():
 
             # User default shell is '/usr/local/bin/bash'
             user_default_shell = "/usr/local/bin/bash"
-            with patch.dict(
-                cmdmod.__salt__,
-                {"user.info": MagicMock(return_value={"shell": user_default_shell})},
+            with patch(
+                "pwd.getpwall",
+                Mock(
+                    return_value=[Mock(pw_shell=user_default_shell, pw_name="foobar")]
+                ),
             ):
-
                 cmd_handler.clear()
                 cmdmod._run(
                     "ls", cwd=tempfile.gettempdir(), runas="foobar", use_vt=False
@@ -471,9 +472,11 @@ def test_shell_properly_handled_on_macOS():
 
             # User default shell is '/bin/zsh'
             user_default_shell = "/bin/zsh"
-            with patch.dict(
-                cmdmod.__salt__,
-                {"user.info": MagicMock(return_value={"shell": user_default_shell})},
+            with patch(
+                "pwd.getpwall",
+                Mock(
+                    return_value=[Mock(pw_shell=user_default_shell, pw_name="foobar")]
+                ),
             ):
 
                 cmd_handler.clear()
@@ -486,6 +489,28 @@ def test_shell_properly_handled_on_macOS():
                 ), "cmd does not invoke user shell on macOS"
 
 
+def test_run_all_quiet_does_not_depend_on_salt_dunder():
+    """
+    cmdmod._run_all_quiet should not depend on availability
+    of __salt__ dictionary (issue #61816)
+    """
+
+    proc = MagicMock(return_value=MockTimedProc(stdout=b"success", stderr=None))
+    with patch("salt.utils.timed_subprocess.TimedProc", proc):
+        salt_dunder_mock = MagicMock(spec_set=dict)
+        salt_dunder_mock.__getitem__.side_effect = NameError(
+            "__salt__ might not be defined"
+        )
+
+        with patch.object(cmdmod, "__salt__", salt_dunder_mock):
+            ret = cmdmod._run_all_quiet("foo")
+            assert ret["stdout"] == "success"
+            assert salt_dunder_mock.__getitem__.call_count == 0
+            ret = cmdmod._run_all_quiet("foo", runas="bar")
+            assert ret["stdout"] == "success"
+            assert salt_dunder_mock.__getitem__.call_count == 0
+
+
 def test_run_cwd_doesnt_exist_issue_7154():
     """
     cmd.run should fail and raise