diff --git a/synapse/handlers/sync.py b/synapse/handlers/sync.py
index 2aec08e56c..cf6a2d1886 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/sync.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/sync.py
@@ -517,10 +517,17 @@ class SyncHandler:
                 # ensure that we always include current state in the timeline
                 current_state_ids: FrozenSet[str] = frozenset()
                 if any(e.is_state() for e in recents):
+                    # FIXME(faster_joins): We use the partial state here as
+                    # we don't want to block `/sync` on finishing a lazy join.
+                    # Which should be fine once
+                    # https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/12989 is resolved,
+                    # since we shouldn't reach here anymore?
+                    # Note that we use the current state as a whitelist for filtering
+                    # `recents`, so partial state is only a problem when a membership
+                    # event turns up in `recents` but has not made it into the current
+                    # state.
                     current_state_ids_map = (
-                        await self._state_storage_controller.get_current_state_ids(
-                            room_id
-                        )
+                        await self.store.get_partial_current_state_ids(room_id)
                     )
                     current_state_ids = frozenset(current_state_ids_map.values())
 
@@ -589,7 +596,13 @@ class SyncHandler:
                 if any(e.is_state() for e in loaded_recents):
                     # FIXME(faster_joins): We use the partial state here as
                     # we don't want to block `/sync` on finishing a lazy join.
-                    # Is this the correct way of doing it?
+                    # Which should be fine once
+                    # https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/12989 is resolved,
+                    # since we shouldn't reach here anymore?
+                    # Note that we use the current state as a whitelist for filtering
+                    # `loaded_recents`, so partial state is only a problem when a
+                    # membership event turns up in `loaded_recents` but has not made it
+                    # into the current state.
                     current_state_ids_map = (
                         await self.store.get_partial_current_state_ids(room_id)
                     )