diff --git a/changelog.d/6161.bugfix b/changelog.d/6161.bugfix
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a0e2adb97
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/6161.bugfix
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Fix bug where guest account registration can wedge after restart.
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/register.py b/synapse/handlers/register.py
index 06bd03b77..53410f120 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/register.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/register.py
@@ -217,10 +217,9 @@ class RegistrationHandler(BaseHandler):
 
         else:
             # autogen a sequential user ID
-            attempts = 0
             user = None
             while not user:
-                localpart = yield self._generate_user_id(attempts > 0)
+                localpart = yield self._generate_user_id()
                 user = UserID(localpart, self.hs.hostname)
                 user_id = user.to_string()
                 yield self.check_user_id_not_appservice_exclusive(user_id)
@@ -238,7 +237,6 @@ class RegistrationHandler(BaseHandler):
                     # if user id is taken, just generate another
                     user = None
                     user_id = None
-                    attempts += 1
 
         if not self.hs.config.user_consent_at_registration:
             yield self._auto_join_rooms(user_id)
@@ -379,10 +377,10 @@ class RegistrationHandler(BaseHandler):
                 )
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
-    def _generate_user_id(self, reseed=False):
-        if reseed or self._next_generated_user_id is None:
+    def _generate_user_id(self):
+        if self._next_generated_user_id is None:
             with (yield self._generate_user_id_linearizer.queue(())):
-                if reseed or self._next_generated_user_id is None:
+                if self._next_generated_user_id is None:
                     self._next_generated_user_id = (
                         yield self.store.find_next_generated_user_id_localpart()
                     )