diff --git a/synapse/http/server.py b/synapse/http/server.py
index dee49b9e1..b3706889a 100644
--- a/synapse/http/server.py
+++ b/synapse/http/server.py
@@ -51,6 +51,80 @@ response_timer = metrics.register_distribution(
     labels=["method", "servlet"]
 )
 
+_next_request_id = 0
+
+
+def request_handler(request_handler):
+    """Wraps a method that acts as a request handler with the necessary logging
+    and exception handling.
+
+    The method must have a signature of "handle_foo(self, request)". The
+    argument "self" must have "version_string" and "clock" attributes. The
+    argument "request" must be a twisted HTTP request.
+
+    The method must return a deferred. If the deferred succeeds we assume that
+    a response has been sent. If the deferred fails with a SynapseError we use
+    it to send a JSON response with the appropriate HTTP reponse code. If the
+    deferred fails with any other type of error we send a 500 reponse.
+
+    We insert a unique request-id into the logging context for this request and
+    log the response and duration for this request.
+    """
+
+    @defer.inlineCallbacks
+    def wrapped_request_handler(self, request):
+        global _next_request_id
+        request_id = "%s-%s" % (request.method, _next_request_id)
+        _next_request_id += 1
+        with LoggingContext(request_id) as request_context:
+            request_context.request = request_id
+            code = None
+            start = self.clock.time_msec()
+            try:
+                logger.info(
+                    "Received request: %s %s",
+                    request.method, request.path
+                )
+                yield request_handler(self, request)
+                code = request.code
+            except CodeMessageException as e:
+                code = e.code
+                if isinstance(e, SynapseError):
+                    logger.info(
+                        "%s SynapseError: %s - %s", request, code, e.msg
+                    )
+                else:
+                    logger.exception(e)
+                outgoing_responses_counter.inc(request.method, str(code))
+                respond_with_json(
+                    request, code, cs_exception(e), send_cors=True,
+                    pretty_print=_request_user_agent_is_curl(request),
+                    version_string=self.version_string,
+                )
+            except:
+                code = 500
+                logger.exception(
+                    "Failed handle request %s.%s on %r: %r",
+                    request_handler.__module__,
+                    request_handler.__name__,
+                    self,
+                    request
+                )
+                respond_with_json(
+                    request,
+                    500,
+                    {"error": "Internal server error"},
+                    send_cors=True
+                )
+            finally:
+                code = str(code) if code else "-"
+                end = self.clock.time_msec()
+                logger.info(
+                    "Processed request: %dms %s %s %s",
+                    end-start, code, request.method, request.path
+                )
+    return wrapped_request_handler
+
 
 class HttpServer(object):
     """ Interface for registering callbacks on a HTTP server
@@ -115,102 +189,56 @@ class JsonResource(HttpServer, resource.Resource):
     def render(self, request):
         """ This get's called by twisted every time someone sends us a request.
         """
-        self._async_render_with_logging_context(request)
+        self._async_render(request)
         return server.NOT_DONE_YET
 
-    _request_id = 0
-
-    @defer.inlineCallbacks
-    def _async_render_with_logging_context(self, request):
-        request_id = "%s-%s" % (request.method, JsonResource._request_id)
-        JsonResource._request_id += 1
-        with LoggingContext(request_id) as request_context:
-            request_context.request = request_id
-            yield self._async_render(request)
-
+    @request_handler
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def _async_render(self, request):
         """ This get's called by twisted every time someone sends us a request.
             This checks if anyone has registered a callback for that method and
             path.
         """
-        code = None
         start = self.clock.time_msec()
-        try:
-            # Just say yes to OPTIONS.
-            if request.method == "OPTIONS":
-                self._send_response(request, 200, {})
-                return
+        if request.method == "OPTIONS":
+            self._send_response(request, 200, {})
+            return
+        # Loop through all the registered callbacks to check if the method
+        # and path regex match
+        for path_entry in self.path_regexs.get(request.method, []):
+            m = path_entry.pattern.match(request.path)
+            if not m:
+                continue
 
-            # Loop through all the registered callbacks to check if the method
-            # and path regex match
-            for path_entry in self.path_regexs.get(request.method, []):
-                m = path_entry.pattern.match(request.path)
-                if not m:
-                    continue
+            # We found a match! Trigger callback and then return the
+            # returned response. We pass both the request and any
+            # matched groups from the regex to the callback.
 
-                # We found a match! Trigger callback and then return the
-                # returned response. We pass both the request and any
-                # matched groups from the regex to the callback.
+            callback = path_entry.callback
 
-                callback = path_entry.callback
-
-                servlet_instance = getattr(callback, "__self__", None)
-                if servlet_instance is not None:
-                    servlet_classname = servlet_instance.__class__.__name__
-                else:
-                    servlet_classname = "%r" % callback
-                incoming_requests_counter.inc(request.method, servlet_classname)
-
-                args = [
-                    urllib.unquote(u).decode("UTF-8") for u in m.groups()
-                ]
-
-                logger.info(
-                    "Received request: %s %s",
-                    request.method, request.path
-                )
-
-                code, response = yield callback(request, *args)
-
-                self._send_response(request, code, response)
-                response_timer.inc_by(
-                    self.clock.time_msec() - start, request.method, servlet_classname
-                )
-
-                return
-
-            # Huh. No one wanted to handle that? Fiiiiiine. Send 400.
-            raise UnrecognizedRequestError()
-        except CodeMessageException as e:
-            if isinstance(e, SynapseError):
-                logger.info("%s SynapseError: %s - %s", request, e.code, e.msg)
+            servlet_instance = getattr(callback, "__self__", None)
+            if servlet_instance is not None:
+                servlet_classname = servlet_instance.__class__.__name__
             else:
-                logger.exception(e)
+                servlet_classname = "%r" % callback
+            incoming_requests_counter.inc(request.method, servlet_classname)
 
-            code = e.code
-            self._send_response(
-                request,
-                code,
-                cs_exception(e),
-                response_code_message=e.response_code_message
-            )
-        except Exception as e:
-            logger.exception(e)
-            self._send_response(
-                request,
-                500,
-                {"error": "Internal server error"}
-            )
-        finally:
-            code = str(code) if code else "-"
+            args = [
+                urllib.unquote(u).decode("UTF-8") for u in m.groups()
+            ]
 
-            end = self.clock.time_msec()
-            logger.info(
-                "Processed request: %dms %s %s %s",
-                end-start, code, request.method, request.path
+            code, response = yield callback(request, *args)
+
+            self._send_response(request, code, response)
+            response_timer.inc_by(
+                self.clock.time_msec() - start, request.method, servlet_classname
             )
 
+            return
+
+        # Huh. No one wanted to handle that? Fiiiiiine. Send 400.
+        raise UnrecognizedRequestError()
+
     def _send_response(self, request, code, response_json_object,
                        response_code_message=None):
         # could alternatively use request.notifyFinish() and flip a flag when
@@ -229,20 +257,10 @@ class JsonResource(HttpServer, resource.Resource):
             request, code, response_json_object,
             send_cors=True,
             response_code_message=response_code_message,
-            pretty_print=self._request_user_agent_is_curl,
+            pretty_print=_request_user_agent_is_curl(request),
             version_string=self.version_string,
         )
 
-    @staticmethod
-    def _request_user_agent_is_curl(request):
-        user_agents = request.requestHeaders.getRawHeaders(
-            "User-Agent", default=[]
-        )
-        for user_agent in user_agents:
-            if "curl" in user_agent:
-                return True
-        return False
-
 
 class RootRedirect(resource.Resource):
     """Redirects the root '/' path to another path."""
@@ -263,8 +281,8 @@ class RootRedirect(resource.Resource):
 def respond_with_json(request, code, json_object, send_cors=False,
                       response_code_message=None, pretty_print=False,
                       version_string=""):
-    if not pretty_print:
-        json_bytes = encode_pretty_printed_json(json_object)
+    if pretty_print:
+        json_bytes = encode_pretty_printed_json(json_object) + "\n"
     else:
         json_bytes = encode_canonical_json(json_object)
 
@@ -304,3 +322,13 @@ def respond_with_json_bytes(request, code, json_bytes, send_cors=False,
     request.write(json_bytes)
     request.finish()
     return NOT_DONE_YET
+
+
+def _request_user_agent_is_curl(request):
+    user_agents = request.requestHeaders.getRawHeaders(
+        "User-Agent", default=[]
+    )
+    for user_agent in user_agents:
+        if "curl" in user_agent:
+            return True
+    return False
diff --git a/synapse/http/servlet.py b/synapse/http/servlet.py
index 265559a3e..9cda17fcf 100644
--- a/synapse/http/servlet.py
+++ b/synapse/http/servlet.py
@@ -23,6 +23,61 @@ import logging
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
+def parse_integer(request, name, default=None, required=False):
+    if name in request.args:
+        try:
+            return int(request.args[name][0])
+        except:
+            message = "Query parameter %r must be an integer" % (name,)
+            raise SynapseError(400, message)
+    else:
+        if required:
+            message = "Missing integer query parameter %r" % (name,)
+            raise SynapseError(400, message)
+        else:
+            return default
+
+
+def parse_boolean(request, name, default=None, required=False):
+    if name in request.args:
+        try:
+            return {
+                "true": True,
+                "false": False,
+            }[request.args[name][0]]
+        except:
+            message = (
+                "Boolean query parameter %r must be one of"
+                " ['true', 'false']"
+            ) % (name,)
+            raise SynapseError(400, message)
+    else:
+        if required:
+            message = "Missing boolean query parameter %r" % (name,)
+            raise SynapseError(400, message)
+        else:
+            return default
+
+
+def parse_string(request, name, default=None, required=False,
+                 allowed_values=None, param_type="string"):
+    if name in request.args:
+        value = request.args[name][0]
+        if allowed_values is not None and value not in allowed_values:
+            message = "Query parameter %r must be one of [%s]" % (
+                name, ", ".join(repr(v) for v in allowed_values)
+            )
+            raise SynapseError(message)
+        else:
+            return value
+    else:
+        if required:
+            message = "Missing %s query parameter %r" % (param_type, name)
+            raise SynapseError(400, message)
+        else:
+            return default
+
+
 class RestServlet(object):
 
     """ A Synapse REST Servlet.
@@ -56,58 +111,3 @@ class RestServlet(object):
                     http_server.register_path(method, pattern, method_handler)
         else:
             raise NotImplementedError("RestServlet must register something.")
-
-    @staticmethod
-    def parse_integer(request, name, default=None, required=False):
-        if name in request.args:
-            try:
-                return int(request.args[name][0])
-            except:
-                message = "Query parameter %r must be an integer" % (name,)
-                raise SynapseError(400, message)
-        else:
-            if required:
-                message = "Missing integer query parameter %r" % (name,)
-                raise SynapseError(400, message)
-            else:
-                return default
-
-    @staticmethod
-    def parse_boolean(request, name, default=None, required=False):
-        if name in request.args:
-            try:
-                return {
-                    "true": True,
-                    "false": False,
-                }[request.args[name][0]]
-            except:
-                message = (
-                    "Boolean query parameter %r must be one of"
-                    " ['true', 'false']"
-                ) % (name,)
-                raise SynapseError(400, message)
-        else:
-            if required:
-                message = "Missing boolean query parameter %r" % (name,)
-                raise SynapseError(400, message)
-            else:
-                return default
-
-    @staticmethod
-    def parse_string(request, name, default=None, required=False,
-                     allowed_values=None, param_type="string"):
-        if name in request.args:
-            value = request.args[name][0]
-            if allowed_values is not None and value not in allowed_values:
-                message = "Query parameter %r must be one of [%s]" % (
-                    name, ", ".join(repr(v) for v in allowed_values)
-                )
-                raise SynapseError(message)
-            else:
-                return value
-        else:
-            if required:
-                message = "Missing %s query parameter %r" % (param_type, name)
-                raise SynapseError(400, message)
-            else:
-                return default
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/sync.py b/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/sync.py
index 3056ec45c..f2fd0b9f3 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/sync.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/sync.py
@@ -15,7 +15,9 @@
 
 from twisted.internet import defer
 
-from synapse.http.servlet import RestServlet
+from synapse.http.servlet import (
+    RestServlet, parse_string, parse_integer, parse_boolean
+)
 from synapse.handlers.sync import SyncConfig
 from synapse.types import StreamToken
 from synapse.events.utils import (
@@ -87,20 +89,20 @@ class SyncRestServlet(RestServlet):
     def on_GET(self, request):
         user, client = yield self.auth.get_user_by_req(request)
 
-        timeout = self.parse_integer(request, "timeout", default=0)
-        limit = self.parse_integer(request, "limit", required=True)
-        gap = self.parse_boolean(request, "gap", default=True)
-        sort = self.parse_string(
+        timeout = parse_integer(request, "timeout", default=0)
+        limit = parse_integer(request, "limit", required=True)
+        gap = parse_boolean(request, "gap", default=True)
+        sort = parse_string(
             request, "sort", default="timeline,asc",
             allowed_values=self.ALLOWED_SORT
         )
-        since = self.parse_string(request, "since")
-        set_presence = self.parse_string(
+        since = parse_string(request, "since")
+        set_presence = parse_string(
             request, "set_presence", default="online",
             allowed_values=self.ALLOWED_PRESENCE
         )
-        backfill = self.parse_boolean(request, "backfill", default=False)
-        filter_id = self.parse_string(request, "filter", default=None)
+        backfill = parse_boolean(request, "backfill", default=False)
+        filter_id = parse_string(request, "filter", default=None)
 
         logger.info(
             "/sync: user=%r, timeout=%r, limit=%r, gap=%r, sort=%r, since=%r,"
diff --git a/synapse/rest/media/v1/base_resource.py b/synapse/rest/media/v1/base_resource.py
index b10cbddb8..edd4f7802 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/media/v1/base_resource.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/media/v1/base_resource.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ from .thumbnailer import Thumbnailer
 from synapse.http.server import respond_with_json
 from synapse.util.stringutils import random_string
 from synapse.api.errors import (
-    cs_exception, CodeMessageException, cs_error, Codes, SynapseError
+    cs_error, Codes, SynapseError
 )
 
 from twisted.internet import defer
@@ -32,6 +32,18 @@ import logging
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
+def parse_media_id(request):
+    try:
+        server_name, media_id = request.postpath
+        return (server_name, media_id)
+    except:
+        raise SynapseError(
+            404,
+            "Invalid media id token %r" % (request.postpath,),
+            Codes.UNKNOWN,
+        )
+
+
 class BaseMediaResource(Resource):
     isLeaf = True
 
@@ -45,74 +57,9 @@ class BaseMediaResource(Resource):
         self.max_upload_size = hs.config.max_upload_size
         self.max_image_pixels = hs.config.max_image_pixels
         self.filepaths = filepaths
+        self.version_string = hs.version_string
         self.downloads = {}
 
-    @staticmethod
-    def catch_errors(request_handler):
-        @defer.inlineCallbacks
-        def wrapped_request_handler(self, request):
-            try:
-                yield request_handler(self, request)
-            except CodeMessageException as e:
-                logger.info("Responding with error: %r", e)
-                respond_with_json(
-                    request, e.code, cs_exception(e), send_cors=True
-                )
-            except:
-                logger.exception(
-                    "Failed handle request %s.%s on %r",
-                    request_handler.__module__,
-                    request_handler.__name__,
-                    self,
-                )
-                respond_with_json(
-                    request,
-                    500,
-                    {"error": "Internal server error"},
-                    send_cors=True
-                )
-        return wrapped_request_handler
-
-    @staticmethod
-    def _parse_media_id(request):
-        try:
-            server_name, media_id = request.postpath
-            return (server_name, media_id)
-        except:
-            raise SynapseError(
-                404,
-                "Invalid media id token %r" % (request.postpath,),
-                Codes.UNKNOWN,
-            )
-
-    @staticmethod
-    def _parse_integer(request, arg_name, default=None):
-        try:
-            if default is None:
-                return int(request.args[arg_name][0])
-            else:
-                return int(request.args.get(arg_name, [default])[0])
-        except:
-            raise SynapseError(
-                400,
-                "Missing integer argument %r" % (arg_name,),
-                Codes.UNKNOWN,
-            )
-
-    @staticmethod
-    def _parse_string(request, arg_name, default=None):
-        try:
-            if default is None:
-                return request.args[arg_name][0]
-            else:
-                return request.args.get(arg_name, [default])[0]
-        except:
-            raise SynapseError(
-                400,
-                "Missing string argument %r" % (arg_name,),
-                Codes.UNKNOWN,
-            )
-
     def _respond_404(self, request):
         respond_with_json(
             request, 404,
diff --git a/synapse/rest/media/v1/download_resource.py b/synapse/rest/media/v1/download_resource.py
index c585bb11f..0fe6abf64 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/media/v1/download_resource.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/media/v1/download_resource.py
@@ -13,7 +13,8 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-from .base_resource import BaseMediaResource
+from .base_resource import BaseMediaResource, parse_media_id
+from synapse.http.server import request_handler
 
 from twisted.web.server import NOT_DONE_YET
 from twisted.internet import defer
@@ -28,15 +29,10 @@ class DownloadResource(BaseMediaResource):
         self._async_render_GET(request)
         return NOT_DONE_YET
 
-    @BaseMediaResource.catch_errors
+    @request_handler
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def _async_render_GET(self, request):
-        try:
-            server_name, media_id = request.postpath
-        except:
-            self._respond_404(request)
-            return
-
+        server_name, media_id = parse_media_id(request)
         if server_name == self.server_name:
             yield self._respond_local_file(request, media_id)
         else:
diff --git a/synapse/rest/media/v1/thumbnail_resource.py b/synapse/rest/media/v1/thumbnail_resource.py
index 84f5e3463..1dadd880b 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/media/v1/thumbnail_resource.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/media/v1/thumbnail_resource.py
@@ -14,7 +14,9 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 
-from .base_resource import BaseMediaResource
+from .base_resource import BaseMediaResource, parse_media_id
+from synapse.http.servlet import parse_string, parse_integer
+from synapse.http.server import request_handler
 
 from twisted.web.server import NOT_DONE_YET
 from twisted.internet import defer
@@ -31,14 +33,14 @@ class ThumbnailResource(BaseMediaResource):
         self._async_render_GET(request)
         return NOT_DONE_YET
 
-    @BaseMediaResource.catch_errors
+    @request_handler
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def _async_render_GET(self, request):
-        server_name, media_id = self._parse_media_id(request)
-        width = self._parse_integer(request, "width")
-        height = self._parse_integer(request, "height")
-        method = self._parse_string(request, "method", "scale")
-        m_type = self._parse_string(request, "type", "image/png")
+        server_name, media_id = parse_media_id(request)
+        width = parse_integer(request, "width")
+        height = parse_integer(request, "height")
+        method = parse_string(request, "method", "scale")
+        m_type = parse_string(request, "type", "image/png")
 
         if server_name == self.server_name:
             yield self._respond_local_thumbnail(
diff --git a/synapse/rest/media/v1/upload_resource.py b/synapse/rest/media/v1/upload_resource.py
index e5aba3af4..cc571976a 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/media/v1/upload_resource.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/media/v1/upload_resource.py
@@ -13,12 +13,10 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-from synapse.http.server import respond_with_json
+from synapse.http.server import respond_with_json, request_handler
 
 from synapse.util.stringutils import random_string
-from synapse.api.errors import (
-    cs_exception, SynapseError, CodeMessageException
-)
+from synapse.api.errors import SynapseError
 
 from twisted.web.server import NOT_DONE_YET
 from twisted.internet import defer
@@ -69,53 +67,42 @@ class UploadResource(BaseMediaResource):
 
         defer.returnValue("mxc://%s/%s" % (self.server_name, media_id))
 
+    @request_handler
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def _async_render_POST(self, request):
-        try:
-            auth_user, client = yield self.auth.get_user_by_req(request)
-            # TODO: The checks here are a bit late. The content will have
-            # already been uploaded to a tmp file at this point
-            content_length = request.getHeader("Content-Length")
-            if content_length is None:
-                raise SynapseError(
-                    msg="Request must specify a Content-Length", code=400
-                )
-            if int(content_length) > self.max_upload_size:
-                raise SynapseError(
-                    msg="Upload request body is too large",
-                    code=413,
-                )
-
-            headers = request.requestHeaders
-
-            if headers.hasHeader("Content-Type"):
-                media_type = headers.getRawHeaders("Content-Type")[0]
-            else:
-                raise SynapseError(
-                    msg="Upload request missing 'Content-Type'",
-                    code=400,
-                )
-
-            # if headers.hasHeader("Content-Disposition"):
-            #     disposition = headers.getRawHeaders("Content-Disposition")[0]
-            # TODO(markjh): parse content-dispostion
-
-            content_uri = yield self.create_content(
-                media_type, None, request.content.read(),
-                content_length, auth_user
+        auth_user, client = yield self.auth.get_user_by_req(request)
+        # TODO: The checks here are a bit late. The content will have
+        # already been uploaded to a tmp file at this point
+        content_length = request.getHeader("Content-Length")
+        if content_length is None:
+            raise SynapseError(
+                msg="Request must specify a Content-Length", code=400
+            )
+        if int(content_length) > self.max_upload_size:
+            raise SynapseError(
+                msg="Upload request body is too large",
+                code=413,
             )
 
-            respond_with_json(
-                request, 200, {"content_uri": content_uri}, send_cors=True
-            )
-        except CodeMessageException as e:
-            logger.exception(e)
-            respond_with_json(request, e.code, cs_exception(e), send_cors=True)
-        except:
-            logger.exception("Failed to store file")
-            respond_with_json(
-                request,
-                500,
-                {"error": "Internal server error"},
-                send_cors=True
+        headers = request.requestHeaders
+
+        if headers.hasHeader("Content-Type"):
+            media_type = headers.getRawHeaders("Content-Type")[0]
+        else:
+            raise SynapseError(
+                msg="Upload request missing 'Content-Type'",
+                code=400,
             )
+
+        # if headers.hasHeader("Content-Disposition"):
+        #     disposition = headers.getRawHeaders("Content-Disposition")[0]
+        # TODO(markjh): parse content-dispostion
+
+        content_uri = yield self.create_content(
+            media_type, None, request.content.read(),
+            content_length, auth_user
+        )
+
+        respond_with_json(
+            request, 200, {"content_uri": content_uri}, send_cors=True
+        )