diff --git a/synapse/appservice/__init__.py b/synapse/appservice/__init__.py
index c28bfff0f4..a1d328cd29 100644
--- a/synapse/appservice/__init__.py
+++ b/synapse/appservice/__init__.py
@@ -183,12 +183,12 @@ class ApplicationService:
         # `store.get_app_service_users_in_room` was used in more places besides
         # an experimental MSC. But for now we can avoid doing more work and
         # barely using it later.
-        member_list = await store.get_local_users_in_room(
+        local_user_ids = await store.get_local_users_in_room(
             room_id, on_invalidate=cache_context.invalidate
         )
 
         # check joined member events
-        for user_id in member_list:
+        for user_id in local_user_ids:
             if self.is_interested_in_user(user_id):
                 return True
         return False
diff --git a/synapse/storage/databases/main/appservice.py b/synapse/storage/databases/main/appservice.py
index 26fd4fa31a..726f2547dc 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/databases/main/appservice.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/databases/main/appservice.py
@@ -169,10 +169,10 @@ class ApplicationServiceWorkerStore(RoomMemberWorkerStore):
         """
         # We can use `get_local_users_in_room(...)` here because an application
         # service can only act on behalf of users of the server it's on.
-        users_in_room = await self.get_local_users_in_room(
+        local_users_in_room = await self.get_local_users_in_room(
             room_id, on_invalidate=cache_context.invalidate
         )
-        return list(filter(app_service.is_interested_in_user, users_in_room))
+        return list(filter(app_service.is_interested_in_user, local_users_in_room))
 
 
 class ApplicationServiceStore(ApplicationServiceWorkerStore):