diff --git a/synapse/storage/monthly_active_users.py b/synapse/storage/monthly_active_users.py
index cf4104dc2e..1dae430bcc 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/monthly_active_users.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/monthly_active_users.py
@@ -34,8 +34,9 @@ class MonthlyActiveUsersStore(SQLBaseStore):
         self.hs = hs
         self.reserved_users = ()
         # Do not add more reserved users than the total allowable number
-        self._initialise_reserved_users(
-            dbconn.cursor(),
+        self._new_transaction(
+            dbconn, "initialise_mau_threepids", [], [],
+            self._initialise_reserved_users, 
             hs.config.mau_limits_reserved_threepids[:self.hs.config.max_mau_value],
         )