diff --git a/lib/r10k/action/deploy/environment.rb b/lib/r10k/action/deploy/environment.rb
index 2e68befbe..075774acc 100644
--- a/lib/r10k/action/deploy/environment.rb
+++ b/lib/r10k/action/deploy/environment.rb
@@ -135,6 +135,7 @@ def visit_deployment(deployment)
               envs.reject! { |e| !requested_envs.include?(e) } if requested_envs.any?
               postcmd = postcmd.map { |e| e.gsub('$modifiedenvs', envs.join(' ')) }
             end
+            logger.debug _("Executing postrun command.")
             subproc = R10K::Util::Subprocess.new(postcmd)
             subproc.logger = logger
             subproc.execute
diff --git a/lib/r10k/action/deploy/module.rb b/lib/r10k/action/deploy/module.rb
index 1c1ffd0cf..0631b9a18 100644
--- a/lib/r10k/action/deploy/module.rb
+++ b/lib/r10k/action/deploy/module.rb
@@ -78,9 +78,9 @@ def visit_deployment(deployment)
         ensure
           if (postcmd = @settings[:postrun])
             if @modified_envs.any?
+              envs_to_run = @modified_envs.join(' ')
+              logger.debug "Running postrun command for environments #{envs_to_run}."
               if postcmd.grep('$modifiedenvs').any?
-                envs_to_run = @modified_envs.join(' ')
-                logger.debug "Running postrun command for environments #{envs_to_run}."
                 postcmd = postcmd.map { |e| e.gsub('$modifiedenvs', envs_to_run) }
               end
               subproc = R10K::Util::Subprocess.new(postcmd)
@@ -103,11 +103,10 @@ def visit_environment(environment)
           else
             logger.debug1(_("Updating modules %{modules} in environment %{env_path}") % {modules: @settings.dig(:overrides, :modules, :requested_modules).inspect, env_path: environment.path})
 
-            environment.deploy
+            updated_modules = environment.deploy
 
-            requested_mods = @settings.dig(:overrides, :modules, :requested_modules) || []
             # We actually synced a module in this env
-            if !((environment.modules.map(&:name) & requested_mods).empty?)
+            if !(updated_modules.nil? || updated_modules.empty?)
               # Record modified environment for postrun command
               @modified_envs << environment.dirname
 
diff --git a/lib/r10k/content_synchronizer.rb b/lib/r10k/content_synchronizer.rb
index cb156af44..74052d055 100644
--- a/lib/r10k/content_synchronizer.rb
+++ b/lib/r10k/content_synchronizer.rb
@@ -8,24 +8,31 @@ def self.serial_accept(modules, visitor, loader)
     end
 
     def self.serial_sync(modules)
+      updated_modules = []
       modules.each do |mod|
-        mod.sync
+        updated = mod.sync
+        updated_modules << mod.name if updated
       end
+      updated_modules
     end
 
+    # Returns a Queue of the names of modules actually updated
     def self.concurrent_accept(modules, visitor, loader, pool_size, logger)
       mods_queue = modules_visit_queue(modules, visitor, loader)
       sync_queue(mods_queue, pool_size, logger)
     end
 
+    # Returns a Queue of the names of modules actually updated
     def self.concurrent_sync(modules, pool_size, logger)
       mods_queue = modules_sync_queue(modules)
       sync_queue(mods_queue, pool_size, logger)
     end
 
+    # Returns a Queue of the names of modules actually updated
     def self.sync_queue(mods_queue, pool_size, logger)
       logger.debug _("Updating modules with %{pool_size} threads") % {pool_size: pool_size}
-      thread_pool = pool_size.times.map { sync_thread(mods_queue, logger) }
+      updated_modules = Queue.new
+      thread_pool = pool_size.times.map { sync_thread(mods_queue, logger, updated_modules) }
       thread_exception = nil
 
       # If any threads raise an exception the deployment is considered a failure.
@@ -33,6 +40,8 @@ def self.sync_queue(mods_queue, pool_size, logger)
       # current work, then re-raise the first exception caught.
       begin
         thread_pool.each(&:join)
+        # Return the list of all modules that were actually updated
+        updated_modules
       rescue => e
         logger.error _("Error during concurrent deploy of a module: %{message}") % {message: e.message}
         mods_queue.clear
@@ -65,11 +74,14 @@ def self.enqueue_modules(queue, modules)
       modules_by_cachedir.values.each {|mods| queue << mods }
     end
 
-    def self.sync_thread(mods_queue, logger)
+    def self.sync_thread(mods_queue, logger, updated_modules)
       Thread.new do
         begin
           while mods = mods_queue.pop(true) do
-            mods.each { |mod| mod.sync }
+            mods.each do |mod|
+              udpated = mod.sync
+              updated_modules << mod.name if udpated
+            end
           end
         rescue ThreadError => e
           logger.debug _("Module thread %{id} exiting: %{message}") % {message: e.message, id: Thread.current.object_id}
diff --git a/lib/r10k/environment/base.rb b/lib/r10k/environment/base.rb
index 056dafcc3..a3df66ee8 100644
--- a/lib/r10k/environment/base.rb
+++ b/lib/r10k/environment/base.rb
@@ -147,6 +147,8 @@ def accept(visitor)
     end
   end
 
+
+  # Returns a Queue of the names of modules actually updated
   def deploy
     if @base_modules.nil?
       load_puppetfile_modules
@@ -154,13 +156,15 @@ def deploy
 
     if ! @base_modules.empty?
       pool_size = @overrides.dig(:modules, :pool_size)
-      R10K::ContentSynchronizer.concurrent_sync(@base_modules, pool_size, logger)
+      updated_modules = R10K::ContentSynchronizer.concurrent_sync(@base_modules, pool_size, logger)
     end
 
     if (@overrides.dig(:purging, :purge_levels) || []).include?(:puppetfile)
       logger.debug("Purging unmanaged Puppetfile content for environment '#{dirname}'...")
       @puppetfile_cleaner.purge!
     end
+
+    updated_modules
   end
 
   def load_puppetfile_modules
diff --git a/lib/r10k/git/stateful_repository.rb b/lib/r10k/git/stateful_repository.rb
index 867f00239..fbbe7a70a 100644
--- a/lib/r10k/git/stateful_repository.rb
+++ b/lib/r10k/git/stateful_repository.rb
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ def resolve(ref)
     @cache.resolve(ref)
   end
 
+  # Returns true if the sync actually updated the repo, false otherwise
   def sync(ref, force=true)
     @cache.sync if sync_cache?(ref)
 
@@ -46,6 +47,7 @@ def sync(ref, force=true)
 
     workdir_status = status(ref)
 
+    updated = true
     case workdir_status
     when :absent
       logger.debug(_("Cloning %{repo_path} and checking out %{ref}") % {repo_path: @repo.path, ref: ref })
@@ -67,7 +69,9 @@ def sync(ref, force=true)
       end
     else
       logger.debug(_("%{repo_path} is already at Git ref %{ref}") % {repo_path: @repo.path, ref: ref })
+      updated = false
     end
+    updated
   end
 
   def status(ref)
diff --git a/lib/r10k/module/base.rb b/lib/r10k/module/base.rb
index 66fd4c1e3..d7a2cd8f6 100644
--- a/lib/r10k/module/base.rb
+++ b/lib/r10k/module/base.rb
@@ -106,6 +106,7 @@ def delete_spec_dir
 
   # Synchronize this module with the indicated state.
   # @param [Hash] opts Deprecated
+  # @return [Boolean] true if the module was updated, false otherwise
   def sync(opts={})
     raise NotImplementedError
   end
diff --git a/lib/r10k/module/definition.rb b/lib/r10k/module/definition.rb
index f275fb7ba..b66870953 100644
--- a/lib/r10k/module/definition.rb
+++ b/lib/r10k/module/definition.rb
@@ -23,8 +23,10 @@ def to_implementation
   end
 
   # syncing is a noop for module definitions
+  # Returns false to inidicate the module was not updated
   def sync(args = {})
     logger.debug1(_("Not updating module %{name}, assuming content unchanged") % {name: name})
+    false
   end
 
   def status
diff --git a/lib/r10k/module/forge.rb b/lib/r10k/module/forge.rb
index 7d53e1e3c..6d169013f 100644
--- a/lib/r10k/module/forge.rb
+++ b/lib/r10k/module/forge.rb
@@ -60,18 +60,24 @@ def initialize(title, dirname, opts, environment=nil)
   end
 
   # @param [Hash] opts Deprecated
+  # @return [Boolean] true if the module was updated, false otherwise
   def sync(opts={})
+    updated = false
     if should_sync?
       case status
       when :absent
+        updated = true
         install
       when :outdated
+        updated = true
         upgrade
       when :mismatched
+        updated = true
         reinstall
       end
       maybe_delete_spec_dir
     end
+    updated
   end
 
   def properties
diff --git a/lib/r10k/module/git.rb b/lib/r10k/module/git.rb
index 7de55c592..f6873a799 100644
--- a/lib/r10k/module/git.rb
+++ b/lib/r10k/module/git.rb
@@ -98,10 +98,16 @@ def properties
   end
 
   # @param [Hash] opts Deprecated
+  # @return [Boolean] true if the module was updated, false otherwise
   def sync(opts={})
     force = opts[:force] || @force
-    @repo.sync(version, force) if should_sync?
+    if should_sync?
+      updated = @repo.sync(version, force)
+    else
+      updated = false
+    end
     maybe_delete_spec_dir
+    updated
   end
 
   def status
diff --git a/lib/r10k/module/local.rb b/lib/r10k/module/local.rb
index f34681180..3fb29843b 100644
--- a/lib/r10k/module/local.rb
+++ b/lib/r10k/module/local.rb
@@ -28,7 +28,9 @@ def status
   end
 
   # @param [Hash] opts Deprecated
+  # @return [Boolean] false, because local modules are always considered in-sync
   def sync(opts={})
     logger.debug1 _("Module %{title} is a local module, always indicating synced.") % {title: title}
+    false
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/r10k/module/svn.rb b/lib/r10k/module/svn.rb
index d69389ca2..b83bdd3a0 100644
--- a/lib/r10k/module/svn.rb
+++ b/lib/r10k/module/svn.rb
@@ -75,17 +75,22 @@ def status
 
   # @param [Hash] opts Deprecated
   def sync(opts={})
+    updated = false
     if should_sync?
       case status
       when :absent
+        updated = true
         install
       when :mismatched
+        updated = true
         reinstall
       when :outdated
+        updated = true
         update
       end
       maybe_delete_spec_dir
     end
+    updated
   end
 
   def exist?
diff --git a/spec/unit/action/deploy/module_spec.rb b/spec/unit/action/deploy/module_spec.rb
index 56f96e876..7be2bda67 100644
--- a/spec/unit/action/deploy/module_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/unit/action/deploy/module_spec.rb
@@ -103,21 +103,14 @@
       end
 
       before do
-        @modules = []
         allow(subject).to receive(:visit_environment).and_wrap_original do |original, environment, &block|
-          mod = R10K::Module::Local.new(environment.name, '/fakedir', {}, environment)
-          if mod.name == 'first'
+          if environment.name == 'first'
+            expect(environment).to receive(:deploy).and_return(['first'])
             expect(environment).to receive(:generate_types!)
           else
+            expect(environment).to receive(:deploy).and_return([])
             expect(environment).not_to receive(:generate_types!)
           end
-          @modules << mod
-          allow(environment.loader).to receive(:load).and_return({
-            modules: [mod],
-            desired_contents: [],
-            managed_directories: [],
-            purge_exclusions: []
-          }).once
           original.call(environment, &block)
         end
       end
@@ -126,9 +119,8 @@
         expect(subject.settings[:overrides][:environments][:generate_types]).to eq(true)
       end
 
-      it 'only calls puppet generate types on environments with specified module' do
+      it 'only calls puppet generate types on environments where the specified module was updated' do
         subject.call
-        expect(@modules.length).to be(2)
       end
     end
 
@@ -422,16 +414,13 @@
           allow(mock_subprocess).to receive(:logger=)
           expect(mock_subprocess).to receive(:execute)
 
-          mock_mod = double('mock_mod', name: 'mod1')
-
           expect(R10K::Util::Subprocess).to receive(:new).
             with(["/generate/types/wrapper", "first"]).
             and_return(mock_subprocess)
 
           expect(subject).to receive(:visit_environment).and_wrap_original do |original, environment, &block|
             if environment.name == 'first'
-              expect(environment).to receive(:deploy).and_return(true)
-              expect(environment).to receive(:modules).and_return([mock_mod])
+              expect(environment).to receive(:deploy).and_return(['first'])
             end
             original.call(environment, &block)
           end.exactly(3).times
@@ -462,12 +451,9 @@
             with(["/generate/types/wrapper", "first third"]).
             and_return(mock_subprocess)
 
-          mock_mod = double('mock_mod', name: 'mod1')
-
           expect(subject).to receive(:visit_environment).and_wrap_original do |original, environment, &block|
-            expect(environment).to receive(:deploy).and_return(true)
             if ['first', 'third'].include?(environment.name)
-              expect(environment).to receive(:modules).and_return([mock_mod])
+              expect(environment).to receive(:deploy).and_return(['mod1'])
             end
             original.call(environment, &block)
           end.exactly(3).times
@@ -480,9 +466,7 @@
 
           mock_mod2 = double('mock_mod', name: 'mod2')
           expect(subject).to receive(:visit_environment).and_wrap_original do |original, environment, &block|
-            expect(environment).to receive(:deploy).and_return(true)
-            # Envs have a different module than the one we asked to deploy
-            expect(environment).to receive(:modules).and_return([mock_mod2])
+            expect(environment).to receive(:deploy).and_return([])
             original.call(environment, &block)
           end.exactly(3).times
 
diff --git a/spec/unit/module/forge_spec.rb b/spec/unit/module/forge_spec.rb
index df338fa3d..1183e9fdc 100644
--- a/spec/unit/module/forge_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/unit/module/forge_spec.rb
@@ -212,25 +212,31 @@
       expect(subject).to receive(:install).never
       expect(subject).to receive(:upgrade).never
       expect(subject).to receive(:reinstall).never
-      subject.sync
+      expect(subject.sync).to be false
     end
 
     it 'reinstalls the module when it is mismatched' do
       allow(subject).to receive(:status).and_return :mismatched
       expect(subject).to receive(:reinstall)
-      subject.sync
+      expect(subject.sync).to be true
     end
 
     it 'upgrades the module when it is outdated' do
       allow(subject).to receive(:status).and_return :outdated
       expect(subject).to receive(:upgrade)
-      subject.sync
+      expect(subject.sync).to be true
     end
 
     it 'installs the module when it is absent' do
       allow(subject).to receive(:status).and_return :absent
       expect(subject).to receive(:install)
-      subject.sync
+      expect(subject.sync).to be true
+    end
+
+    it 'returns false if `should_sync?` is false' do
+      # modules do not sync if they are not requested
+      mod = described_class.new('my_org/my_mod', '/path/to/mod', { overrides: { modules: { requested_modules: ['other_mod'] } } })
+      expect(mod.sync).to be false
     end
   end
 
diff --git a/spec/unit/module/git_spec.rb b/spec/unit/module/git_spec.rb
index de417fa84..c30fb1abf 100644
--- a/spec/unit/module/git_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/unit/module/git_spec.rb
@@ -128,6 +128,25 @@
       subject.sync
       expect(Dir.exist?(spec_path)).to eq true
     end
+
+    it 'returns true if repo was updated' do
+      allow(mock_repo).to receive(:resolve).with('master').and_return('abc123')
+      expect(mock_repo).to receive(:sync).and_return(true)
+      expect(subject.sync).to be true
+    end
+
+    it 'returns false if repo was not updated (in-sync)' do
+      allow(mock_repo).to receive(:resolve).with('master').and_return('abc123')
+      expect(mock_repo).to receive(:sync).and_return(false)
+      expect(subject.sync).to be false
+    end
+
+    it 'returns false if `should_sync?` is false' do
+      # modules do not sync if they are not requested
+      mod = described_class.new(title, dirname, { overrides: { modules: { requested_modules: ['other_mod'] } } })
+      allow(mock_repo).to receive(:resolve).with('master').and_return('abc123')
+      expect(mod.sync).to be false
+    end
   end
 
   describe "determining the status" do
diff --git a/spec/unit/module/svn_spec.rb b/spec/unit/module/svn_spec.rb
index b2b9b2550..6263ab03e 100644
--- a/spec/unit/module/svn_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/unit/module/svn_spec.rb
@@ -135,7 +135,6 @@
     subject { described_class.new(title, dirname, {}) }
 
     it 'is kept by default' do
-
       FileUtils.mkdir_p(spec_path)
       expect(subject).to receive(:status).and_return(:absent)
       expect(subject).to receive(:install).and_return(nil)
@@ -157,7 +156,7 @@
 
       it "installs the SVN module" do
         expect(subject).to receive(:install)
-        subject.sync
+        expect(subject.sync).to be true
       end
     end
 
@@ -167,14 +166,14 @@
       it "reinstalls the module" do
         expect(subject).to receive(:reinstall)
 
-        subject.sync
+        expect(subject.sync).to be true
       end
 
       it "removes the existing directory" do
         expect(subject.path).to receive(:rmtree)
         allow(subject).to receive(:install)
 
-        subject.sync
+        expect(subject.sync).to be true
       end
     end
 
@@ -184,7 +183,7 @@
       it "upgrades the repository" do
         expect(subject).to receive(:update)
 
-        subject.sync
+        expect(subject.sync).to be true
       end
     end
 
@@ -196,8 +195,14 @@
         expect(subject).to receive(:reinstall).never
         expect(subject).to receive(:update).never
 
-        subject.sync
+        expect(subject.sync).to be false
       end
     end
+
+    it 'and `should_sync?` is false' do
+      # modules do not sync if they are not requested
+      mod = described_class.new('my_mod', '/path/to/mod', { overrides: { modules: { requested_modules: ['other_mod'] } } })
+      expect(mod.sync).to be false
+    end
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/unit/puppetfile_spec.rb b/spec/unit/puppetfile_spec.rb
index ea952960f..02389cd49 100644
--- a/spec/unit/puppetfile_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/unit/puppetfile_spec.rb
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@
       expect(subject).to receive(:modules).and_return([mod1, mod2])
 
       expect(Thread).to receive(:new).exactly(pool_size).and_call_original
-      expect(Queue).to receive(:new).and_call_original
+      expect(Queue).to receive(:new).and_call_original.twice
 
       subject.accept(visitor)
     end