diff --git a/changelog.d/8770.misc b/changelog.d/8770.misc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b5876a82f9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/8770.misc
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Use `TYPE_CHECKING` instead of magic `MYPY` variable.
diff --git a/synapse/events/spamcheck.py b/synapse/events/spamcheck.py
index bad18f7fdf..936896656a 100644
--- a/synapse/events/spamcheck.py
+++ b/synapse/events/spamcheck.py
@@ -15,13 +15,12 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 import inspect
-from typing import Any, Dict, List, Optional, Tuple
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Dict, List, Optional, Tuple
 
 from synapse.spam_checker_api import RegistrationBehaviour
 from synapse.types import Collection
 
-MYPY = False
-if MYPY:
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
     import synapse.events
     import synapse.server
 
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/presence.py b/synapse/handlers/presence.py
index 8e014c9bb5..22d1e9d35c 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/presence.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/presence.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ The methods that define policy are:
 import abc
 import logging
 from contextlib import contextmanager
-from typing import Dict, Iterable, List, Set, Tuple
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Dict, Iterable, List, Set, Tuple
 
 from prometheus_client import Counter
 from typing_extensions import ContextManager
@@ -46,8 +46,7 @@ from synapse.util.caches.descriptors import cached
 from synapse.util.metrics import Measure
 from synapse.util.wheel_timer import WheelTimer
 
-MYPY = False
-if MYPY:
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from synapse.server import HomeServer
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/v1/room.py b/synapse/rest/client/v1/room.py
index 25d3cc6148..93c06afe27 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/v1/room.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/v1/room.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 
 import logging
 import re
-from typing import List, Optional
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, List, Optional
 from urllib import parse as urlparse
 
 from synapse.api.constants import EventTypes, Membership
@@ -48,8 +48,7 @@ from synapse.types import RoomAlias, RoomID, StreamToken, ThirdPartyInstanceID,
 from synapse.util import json_decoder
 from synapse.util.stringutils import random_string
 
-MYPY = False
-if MYPY:
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
     import synapse.server
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)