diff --git a/synapse/server_notices/server_notices_manager.py b/synapse/server_notices/server_notices_manager.py
index 3e57f8211a..22c819cc5b 100644
--- a/synapse/server_notices/server_notices_manager.py
+++ b/synapse/server_notices/server_notices_manager.py
@@ -76,7 +76,8 @@ class ServerNoticesManager(object):
             "sender": system_mxid,
             "content": event_content,
         }
-        if state_key:
+
+        if state_key is not None:
             event_dict['state_key'] = state_key
 
         res = yield self._event_creation_handler.create_and_send_nonmember_event(