diff --git a/synapse/handlers/message.py b/synapse/handlers/message.py
index 7b9685be7f..9c2ef94290 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/message.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/message.py
@@ -274,7 +274,8 @@ class MessageHandler(BaseHandler):
         if limit is None:
             limit = 10
 
-        for event in room_list:
+        @defer.inlineCallbacks
+        def handle_room(event):
             d = {
                 "room_id": event.room_id,
                 "membership": event.membership,
@@ -290,7 +291,7 @@ class MessageHandler(BaseHandler):
             rooms_ret.append(d)
 
             if event.membership != Membership.JOIN:
-                continue
+                return
             try:
                 messages, token = yield self.store.get_recent_events_for_room(
                     event.room_id,
@@ -321,6 +322,11 @@ class MessageHandler(BaseHandler):
             except:
                 logger.exception("Failed to get snapshot")
 
+        yield defer.gatherResults(
+            [handle_room(e) for e in room_list],
+            consumeErrors=True
+        )
+
         ret = {
             "rooms": rooms_ret,
             "presence": presence,