diff --git a/synapse/app/homeserver.py b/synapse/app/homeserver.py
index f210d26629..2d0340f0f1 100755
--- a/synapse/app/homeserver.py
+++ b/synapse/app/homeserver.py
@@ -271,10 +271,6 @@ def setup():
         db_name=db_name,
     )
 
-    # This object doesn't need to be saved because it's set as the handler for
-    # the replication layer
-    hs.get_federation()
-
     hs.register_servlets()
 
     hs.create_resource_tree(