diff --git a/changelog/57357.fixed.md b/changelog/57357.fixed.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..4da722138887
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/57357.fixed.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Fixed the ``salt`` CLI exiting 0 in batch mode when the target matched no minions; it now exits 2 ("No return received"), matching the non-batch behavior.
diff --git a/salt/cli/salt.py b/salt/cli/salt.py
index 9c28e5de3d62..29bd6a29aadb 100644
--- a/salt/cli/salt.py
+++ b/salt/cli/salt.py
@@ -292,6 +292,12 @@ def _run_batch(self):
                 if job_retcode > retcode:
                     # Exit with the highest retcode we find
                     retcode = job_retcode
+            if not batch.minions:
+                # No minions matched the target. Mirror the non-batch CLI,
+                # which prints "No return received" and exits 2 rather than
+                # silently exiting 0 (#57357).
+                sys.stderr.write("ERROR: No return received\n")
+                sys.exit(2)
             sys.exit(retcode)
 
     def _print_errors_summary(self, errors):
diff --git a/tests/pytests/unit/cli/test_salt.py b/tests/pytests/unit/cli/test_salt.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..8df2a2124b81
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/pytests/unit/cli/test_salt.py
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+"""
+Unit tests for the salt CLI (salt.cli.salt.SaltCMD).
+"""
+
+import pytest
+
+from salt.cli.salt import SaltCMD
+from tests.support.mock import MagicMock, patch
+
+
+def _fake_saltcmd():
+    """
+    A stand-in SaltCMD self with just the attributes _run_batch's non-static
+    branch touches, so the method can be exercised without full CLI parsing.
+    """
+    fake = MagicMock()
+    fake.config = {}
+    fake.options.eauth = ""
+    fake.options.static = False
+    fake.options.batch = "100%"
+    return fake
+
+
+def _run_batch_exit_code(fake_batch):
+    fake = _fake_saltcmd()
+    with patch("salt.cli.batch.Batch", return_value=fake_batch):
+        with pytest.raises(SystemExit) as exc:
+            SaltCMD._run_batch(fake)
+    return exc.value.code
+
+
+def test_run_batch_no_minions_exits_nonzero():
+    """
+    Regression test for #57357.
+
+    When a batch run matches zero minions, ``batch.run()`` yields nothing. The
+    CLI must exit non-zero -- matching the non-batch path, which prints
+    "No return received" and exits 2 -- instead of silently exiting 0. Pins the
+    bug: before the fix the empty loop leaves ``retcode=0`` and the CLI exits 0.
+    """
+    fake_batch = MagicMock()
+    fake_batch.run.return_value = iter([])
+    fake_batch.minions = []
+    assert _run_batch_exit_code(fake_batch) == 2
+
+
+def test_run_batch_matched_minions_uses_highest_job_retcode():
+    """
+    Inverse of #57357: when minions match, the exit code is the highest job
+    retcode seen, and the no-return path is not taken.
+    """
+    fake_batch = MagicMock()
+    fake_batch.run.return_value = iter([({"m1": {}}, 0), ({"m2": {}}, 3)])
+    fake_batch.minions = ["m1", "m2"]
+    assert _run_batch_exit_code(fake_batch) == 3
+
+
+def test_run_batch_matched_minions_success_exits_zero():
+    """
+    A successful batch that matched minions still exits 0 -- the fix must not
+    regress the normal path.
+    """
+    fake_batch = MagicMock()
+    fake_batch.run.return_value = iter([({"m1": {}}, 0)])
+    fake_batch.minions = ["m1"]
+    assert _run_batch_exit_code(fake_batch) == 0