diff --git a/synapse/__init__.py b/synapse/__init__.py
index 749a60329c..fd87c7e2d0 100644
--- a/synapse/__init__.py
+++ b/synapse/__init__.py
@@ -16,4 +16,4 @@
 """ This is a reference implementation of a Matrix home server.
 """
 
-__version__ = "0.8.1-r2"
+__version__ = "0.8.1-r3"
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/federation.py b/synapse/handlers/federation.py
index 9a4773ac02..98148c13d7 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/federation.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/federation.py
@@ -201,10 +201,18 @@ class FederationHandler(BaseHandler):
                 target_user = UserID.from_string(target_user_id)
                 extra_users.append(target_user)
 
-            yield self.notifier.on_new_room_event(
+            d = self.notifier.on_new_room_event(
                 event, extra_users=extra_users
             )
 
+            def log_failure(f):
+                logger.warn(
+                    "Failed to notify about %s: %s",
+                    event.event_id, f.value
+                )
+
+            d.addErrback(log_failure)
+
         if event.type == EventTypes.Member:
             if event.membership == Membership.JOIN:
                 user = UserID.from_string(event.state_key)
@@ -427,10 +435,18 @@ class FederationHandler(BaseHandler):
                 auth_events=auth_events,
             )
 
-            yield self.notifier.on_new_room_event(
+            d = self.notifier.on_new_room_event(
                 new_event, extra_users=[joinee]
             )
 
+            def log_failure(f):
+                logger.warn(
+                    "Failed to notify about %s: %s",
+                    new_event.event_id, f.value
+                )
+
+            d.addErrback(log_failure)
+
             logger.debug("Finished joining %s to %s", joinee, room_id)
         finally:
             room_queue = self.room_queues[room_id]
@@ -500,10 +516,18 @@ class FederationHandler(BaseHandler):
             target_user = UserID.from_string(target_user_id)
             extra_users.append(target_user)
 
-        yield self.notifier.on_new_room_event(
+        d = self.notifier.on_new_room_event(
             event, extra_users=extra_users
         )
 
+        def log_failure(f):
+            logger.warn(
+                "Failed to notify about %s: %s",
+                event.event_id, f.value
+            )
+
+        d.addErrback(log_failure)
+
         if event.type == EventTypes.Member:
             if event.content["membership"] == Membership.JOIN:
                 user = UserID.from_string(event.state_key)
@@ -574,10 +598,18 @@ class FederationHandler(BaseHandler):
         )
 
         target_user = UserID.from_string(event.state_key)
-        yield self.notifier.on_new_room_event(
+        d = self.notifier.on_new_room_event(
             event, extra_users=[target_user],
         )
 
+        def log_failure(f):
+            logger.warn(
+                "Failed to notify about %s: %s",
+                event.event_id, f.value
+            )
+
+        d.addErrback(log_failure)
+
         defer.returnValue(event)
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
diff --git a/synapse/util/expiringcache.py b/synapse/util/expiringcache.py
index 1c7859297a..06d1eea01b 100644
--- a/synapse/util/expiringcache.py
+++ b/synapse/util/expiringcache.py
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ class ExpiringCache(object):
         if self._max_len and len(self._cache.keys()) > self._max_len:
             sorted_entries = sorted(
                 self._cache.items(),
-                key=lambda k, v: v.time,
+                key=lambda (k, v): v.time,
             )
 
             for k, _ in sorted_entries[self._max_len:]: