diff --git a/synapse/handlers/sync.py b/synapse/handlers/sync.py
index cf6a2d1886..a10a61363b 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/sync.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/sync.py
@@ -1758,7 +1758,11 @@ class SyncHandler:
                 continue
 
             if room_id in sync_result_builder.joined_room_ids or has_join:
-                old_state_ids = await self.get_state_at(room_id, since_token)
+                old_state_ids = await self.get_state_at(
+                    room_id,
+                    since_token,
+                    state_filter=StateFilter.from_types([(EventTypes.Member, user_id)]),
+                )
                 old_mem_ev_id = old_state_ids.get((EventTypes.Member, user_id), None)
                 old_mem_ev = None
                 if old_mem_ev_id:
@@ -1784,7 +1788,13 @@ class SyncHandler:
                     newly_left_rooms.append(room_id)
                 else:
                     if not old_state_ids:
-                        old_state_ids = await self.get_state_at(room_id, since_token)
+                        old_state_ids = await self.get_state_at(
+                            room_id,
+                            since_token,
+                            state_filter=StateFilter.from_types(
+                                [(EventTypes.Member, user_id)]
+                            ),
+                        )
                         old_mem_ev_id = old_state_ids.get(
                             (EventTypes.Member, user_id), None
                         )