diff --git a/synapse/federation/federation_server.py b/synapse/federation/federation_server.py
index 1fee4e83a..862ccbef5 100644
--- a/synapse/federation/federation_server.py
+++ b/synapse/federation/federation_server.py
@@ -52,8 +52,8 @@ class FederationServer(FederationBase):
 
         self.auth = hs.get_auth()
 
-        self._room_pdu_linearizer = Linearizer()
-        self._server_linearizer = Linearizer()
+        self._room_pdu_linearizer = Linearizer("fed_room_pdu")
+        self._server_linearizer = Linearizer("fed_server")
 
         # We cache responses to state queries, as they take a while and often
         # come in waves.
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/room_member.py b/synapse/handlers/room_member.py
index 2f8782e52..649aaf6d2 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/room_member.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/room_member.py
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ class RoomMemberHandler(BaseHandler):
     def __init__(self, hs):
         super(RoomMemberHandler, self).__init__(hs)
 
-        self.member_linearizer = Linearizer()
+        self.member_linearizer = Linearizer(name="member")
 
         self.clock = hs.get_clock()
 
diff --git a/synapse/rest/media/v1/media_repository.py b/synapse/rest/media/v1/media_repository.py
index 692e07841..2b693ae54 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/media/v1/media_repository.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/media/v1/media_repository.py
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ class MediaRepository(object):
         self.dynamic_thumbnails = hs.config.dynamic_thumbnails
         self.thumbnail_requirements = hs.config.thumbnail_requirements
 
-        self.remote_media_linearizer = Linearizer()
+        self.remote_media_linearizer = Linearizer(name="media_remote")
 
         self.recently_accessed_remotes = set()
 
diff --git a/synapse/state.py b/synapse/state.py
index 8003099c8..b9d5627a8 100644
--- a/synapse/state.py
+++ b/synapse/state.py
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ class StateHandler(object):
 
         # dict of set of event_ids -> _StateCacheEntry.
         self._state_cache = None
-        self.resolve_linearizer = Linearizer()
+        self.resolve_linearizer = Linearizer(name="state_resolve_lock")
 
     def start_caching(self):
         logger.debug("start_caching")