diff --git a/synapse/handlers/__init__.py b/synapse/handlers/__init__.py
index 5ad408f549..53213cdccf 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/__init__.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/__init__.py
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ from .room import (
 from .room_member import RoomMemberHandler
 from .message import MessageHandler
 from .federation import FederationHandler
-from .profile import ProfileHandler
 from .directory import DirectoryHandler
 from .admin import AdminHandler
 from .identity import IdentityHandler
@@ -52,7 +51,6 @@ class Handlers(object):
         self.room_creation_handler = RoomCreationHandler(hs)
         self.room_member_handler = RoomMemberHandler(hs)
         self.federation_handler = FederationHandler(hs)
-        self.profile_handler = ProfileHandler(hs)
         self.directory_handler = DirectoryHandler(hs)
         self.admin_handler = AdminHandler(hs)
         self.identity_handler = IdentityHandler(hs)
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/groups_local.py b/synapse/handlers/groups_local.py
index bfa10bde5a..1950c12f1f 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/groups_local.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/groups_local.py
@@ -56,8 +56,7 @@ class GroupsLocalHandler(object):
         self.notifier = hs.get_notifier()
         self.attestations = hs.get_groups_attestation_signing()
 
-        handlers = hs.get_handlers()
-        self.profile_handler = handlers.profile_handler
+        self.profile_handler = hs.get_profile_handler()
 
         # Ensure attestations get renewed
         hs.get_groups_attestation_renewer()
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/message.py b/synapse/handlers/message.py
index be4f123c54..5b8f20b73c 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/message.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/message.py
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ class MessageHandler(BaseHandler):
         self.state = hs.get_state_handler()
         self.clock = hs.get_clock()
         self.validator = EventValidator()
+        self.profile_handler = hs.get_profile_handler()
 
         self.pagination_lock = ReadWriteLock()
 
@@ -210,7 +211,7 @@ class MessageHandler(BaseHandler):
 
                 if membership in {Membership.JOIN, Membership.INVITE}:
                     # If event doesn't include a display name, add one.
-                    profile = self.hs.get_handlers().profile_handler
+                    profile = self.profile_handler
                     content = builder.content
 
                     try:
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/profile.py b/synapse/handlers/profile.py
index 57e22edb0d..5e34501c7a 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/profile.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/profile.py
@@ -22,18 +22,21 @@ from synapse.api.errors import SynapseError, AuthError, CodeMessageException
 from synapse.types import UserID, get_domain_from_id
 from ._base import BaseHandler
 
-
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
-class ProfileHandler(BaseHandler):
+class ProfileHandler(object):
     PROFILE_UPDATE_MS = 60 * 1000
     PROFILE_UPDATE_EVERY_MS = 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000
 
     def __init__(self, hs):
-        super(ProfileHandler, self).__init__(hs)
-
+        self.hs = hs
+        self.store = hs.get_datastore()
         self.clock = hs.get_clock()
+        self.ratelimiter = hs.get_ratelimiter()
+
+        # AWFUL hack to get at BaseHandler.ratelimit
+        self.base_handler = BaseHandler(hs)
 
         self.federation = hs.get_replication_layer()
         self.federation.register_query_handler(
@@ -194,7 +197,7 @@ class ProfileHandler(BaseHandler):
         if not self.hs.is_mine(user):
             return
 
-        yield self.ratelimit(requester)
+        yield self.base_handler.ratelimit(requester)
 
         room_ids = yield self.store.get_rooms_for_user(
             user.to_string(),
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/register.py b/synapse/handlers/register.py
index ee3a2269a8..560fb36254 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/register.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/register.py
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ class RegistrationHandler(BaseHandler):
         super(RegistrationHandler, self).__init__(hs)
 
         self.auth = hs.get_auth()
+        self.profile_handler = hs.get_profile_handler()
         self.captcha_client = CaptchaServerHttpClient(hs)
 
         self._next_generated_user_id = None
@@ -423,8 +424,7 @@ class RegistrationHandler(BaseHandler):
 
         if displayname is not None:
             logger.info("setting user display name: %s -> %s", user_id, displayname)
-            profile_handler = self.hs.get_handlers().profile_handler
-            yield profile_handler.set_displayname(
+            yield self.profile_handler.set_displayname(
                 user, requester, displayname, by_admin=True,
             )
 
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/room_member.py b/synapse/handlers/room_member.py
index b3f979b246..dadc19d45b 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/room_member.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/room_member.py
@@ -45,6 +45,8 @@ class RoomMemberHandler(BaseHandler):
     def __init__(self, hs):
         super(RoomMemberHandler, self).__init__(hs)
 
+        self.profile_handler = hs.get_profile_handler()
+
         self.member_linearizer = Linearizer(name="member")
 
         self.clock = hs.get_clock()
@@ -255,7 +257,7 @@ class RoomMemberHandler(BaseHandler):
 
                 content["membership"] = Membership.JOIN
 
-                profile = self.hs.get_handlers().profile_handler
+                profile = self.profile_handler
                 if not content_specified:
                     content["displayname"] = yield profile.get_displayname(target)
                     content["avatar_url"] = yield profile.get_avatar_url(target)
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/v1/profile.py b/synapse/rest/client/v1/profile.py
index 1a5045c9ec..d7edc34245 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/v1/profile.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/v1/profile.py
@@ -26,13 +26,13 @@ class ProfileDisplaynameRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
 
     def __init__(self, hs):
         super(ProfileDisplaynameRestServlet, self).__init__(hs)
-        self.handlers = hs.get_handlers()
+        self.profile_handler = hs.get_profile_handler()
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def on_GET(self, request, user_id):
         user = UserID.from_string(user_id)
 
-        displayname = yield self.handlers.profile_handler.get_displayname(
+        displayname = yield self.profile_handler.get_displayname(
             user,
         )
 
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ class ProfileDisplaynameRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
         except:
             defer.returnValue((400, "Unable to parse name"))
 
-        yield self.handlers.profile_handler.set_displayname(
+        yield self.profile_handler.set_displayname(
             user, requester, new_name, is_admin)
 
         defer.returnValue((200, {}))
@@ -69,13 +69,13 @@ class ProfileAvatarURLRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
 
     def __init__(self, hs):
         super(ProfileAvatarURLRestServlet, self).__init__(hs)
-        self.handlers = hs.get_handlers()
+        self.profile_handler = hs.get_profile_handler()
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def on_GET(self, request, user_id):
         user = UserID.from_string(user_id)
 
-        avatar_url = yield self.handlers.profile_handler.get_avatar_url(
+        avatar_url = yield self.profile_handler.get_avatar_url(
             user,
         )
 
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ class ProfileAvatarURLRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
         except:
             defer.returnValue((400, "Unable to parse name"))
 
-        yield self.handlers.profile_handler.set_avatar_url(
+        yield self.profile_handler.set_avatar_url(
             user, requester, new_name, is_admin)
 
         defer.returnValue((200, {}))
@@ -111,16 +111,16 @@ class ProfileRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
 
     def __init__(self, hs):
         super(ProfileRestServlet, self).__init__(hs)
-        self.handlers = hs.get_handlers()
+        self.profile_handler = hs.get_profile_handler()
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def on_GET(self, request, user_id):
         user = UserID.from_string(user_id)
 
-        displayname = yield self.handlers.profile_handler.get_displayname(
+        displayname = yield self.profile_handler.get_displayname(
             user,
         )
-        avatar_url = yield self.handlers.profile_handler.get_avatar_url(
+        avatar_url = yield self.profile_handler.get_avatar_url(
             user,
         )
 
diff --git a/synapse/server.py b/synapse/server.py
index d0a6272766..5b892cc390 100644
--- a/synapse/server.py
+++ b/synapse/server.py
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ from synapse.handlers.receipts import ReceiptsHandler
 from synapse.handlers.read_marker import ReadMarkerHandler
 from synapse.handlers.user_directory import UserDirectoyHandler
 from synapse.handlers.groups_local import GroupsLocalHandler
+from synapse.handlers.profile import ProfileHandler
 from synapse.groups.groups_server import GroupsServerHandler
 from synapse.groups.attestations import GroupAttestionRenewer, GroupAttestationSigning
 from synapse.http.client import SimpleHttpClient, InsecureInterceptableContextFactory
@@ -114,6 +115,7 @@ class HomeServer(object):
         'application_service_scheduler',
         'application_service_handler',
         'device_message_handler',
+        'profile_handler',
         'notifier',
         'distributor',
         'client_resource',
@@ -258,6 +260,9 @@ class HomeServer(object):
     def build_initial_sync_handler(self):
         return InitialSyncHandler(self)
 
+    def build_profile_handler(self):
+        return ProfileHandler(self)
+
     def build_event_sources(self):
         return EventSources(self)
 
diff --git a/tests/handlers/test_profile.py b/tests/handlers/test_profile.py
index 2a203129ca..a5f47181d7 100644
--- a/tests/handlers/test_profile.py
+++ b/tests/handlers/test_profile.py
@@ -62,8 +62,6 @@ class ProfileTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         self.ratelimiter = hs.get_ratelimiter()
         self.ratelimiter.send_message.return_value = (True, 0)
 
-        hs.handlers = ProfileHandlers(hs)
-
         self.store = hs.get_datastore()
 
         self.frank = UserID.from_string("@1234ABCD:test")
@@ -72,7 +70,7 @@ class ProfileTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
 
         yield self.store.create_profile(self.frank.localpart)
 
-        self.handler = hs.get_handlers().profile_handler
+        self.handler = hs.get_profile_handler()
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def test_get_my_name(self):
diff --git a/tests/handlers/test_register.py b/tests/handlers/test_register.py
index c8cf9a63ec..e990e45220 100644
--- a/tests/handlers/test_register.py
+++ b/tests/handlers/test_register.py
@@ -40,13 +40,14 @@ class RegistrationTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         self.hs = yield setup_test_homeserver(
             handlers=None,
             http_client=None,
-            expire_access_token=True)
+            expire_access_token=True,
+            profile_handler=Mock(),
+        )
         self.macaroon_generator = Mock(
             generate_access_token=Mock(return_value='secret'))
         self.hs.get_macaroon_generator = Mock(return_value=self.macaroon_generator)
         self.hs.handlers = RegistrationHandlers(self.hs)
         self.handler = self.hs.get_handlers().registration_handler
-        self.hs.get_handlers().profile_handler = Mock()
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def test_user_is_created_and_logged_in_if_doesnt_exist(self):
diff --git a/tests/rest/client/v1/test_profile.py b/tests/rest/client/v1/test_profile.py
index 1e95e97538..dddcf51b69 100644
--- a/tests/rest/client/v1/test_profile.py
+++ b/tests/rest/client/v1/test_profile.py
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ class ProfileTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
             resource_for_client=self.mock_resource,
             federation=Mock(),
             replication_layer=Mock(),
+            profile_handler=self.mock_handler
         )
 
         def _get_user_by_req(request=None, allow_guest=False):
@@ -53,8 +54,6 @@ class ProfileTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
 
         hs.get_v1auth().get_user_by_req = _get_user_by_req
 
-        hs.get_handlers().profile_handler = self.mock_handler
-
         profile.register_servlets(hs, self.mock_resource)
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks