diff --git a/synapse/storage/__init__.py b/synapse/storage/__init__.py
index 14a788c19..4b16f445d 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/__init__.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/__init__.py
@@ -450,7 +450,7 @@ class DataStore(RoomMemberStore, RoomStore,
         else:
             args = (room_id, )
 
-        results = yield self._execute_and_decode(sql, *args)
+        results = yield self._execute_and_decode("get_current_state", sql, *args)
 
         events = yield self._parse_events(results)
         defer.returnValue(events)
@@ -475,7 +475,7 @@ class DataStore(RoomMemberStore, RoomStore,
         sql += " OR s.type = 'm.room.aliases')"
         args = (room_id,)
 
-        results = yield self._execute_and_decode(sql, *args)
+        results = yield self._execute_and_decode("get_current_state", sql, *args)
 
         events = yield self._parse_events(results)
 
@@ -495,8 +495,7 @@ class DataStore(RoomMemberStore, RoomStore,
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def _get_min_token(self):
         row = yield self._execute(
-            None,
-            "SELECT MIN(stream_ordering) FROM events"
+            "_get_min_token", None, "SELECT MIN(stream_ordering) FROM events"
         )
 
         self.min_token = row[0][0] if row and row[0] and row[0][0] else -1
diff --git a/synapse/storage/_base.py b/synapse/storage/_base.py
index 3725c9795..3ea738276 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/_base.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/_base.py
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ class SQLBaseStore(object):
         )
         return results
 
-    def _execute(self, decoder, query, *args):
+    def _execute(self, desc, decoder, query, *args):
         """Runs a single query for a result set.
 
         Args:
@@ -277,10 +277,10 @@ class SQLBaseStore(object):
             else:
                 return cursor.fetchall()
 
-        return self.runInteraction("_execute", interaction)
+        return self.runInteraction(desc, interaction)
 
-    def _execute_and_decode(self, query, *args):
-        return self._execute(self.cursor_to_dict, query, *args)
+    def _execute_and_decode(self, desc, query, *args):
+        return self._execute(desc, self.cursor_to_dict, query, *args)
 
     # "Simple" SQL API methods that operate on a single table with no JOINs,
     # no complex WHERE clauses, just a dict of values for columns.
diff --git a/synapse/storage/appservice.py b/synapse/storage/appservice.py
index e30265750..850676ce6 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/appservice.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/appservice.py
@@ -296,7 +296,7 @@ class ApplicationServiceStore(SQLBaseStore):
         #   }
         # ]
         services = {}
-        results = yield self._execute_and_decode(sql)
+        results = yield self._execute_and_decode("_populate_cache", sql)
         for res in results:
             as_token = res["token"]
             if as_token not in services:
diff --git a/synapse/storage/feedback.py b/synapse/storage/feedback.py
index fcf011b23..8eab769b7 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/feedback.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/feedback.py
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ class FeedbackStore(SQLBaseStore):
             "WHERE feedback.target_event_id = ? "
         )
 
-        rows = yield self._execute_and_decode(sql, event_id)
+        rows = yield self._execute_and_decode("get_feedback_for_event", sql, event_id)
 
         defer.returnValue(
             [
diff --git a/synapse/storage/keys.py b/synapse/storage/keys.py
index 1f244019f..09d1e6365 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/keys.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/keys.py
@@ -85,7 +85,9 @@ class KeyStore(SQLBaseStore):
             " AND key_id in (" + ",".join("?" for key_id in key_ids) + ")"
         )
 
-        rows = yield self._execute_and_decode(sql, server_name, *key_ids)
+        rows = yield self._execute_and_decode(
+            "get_server_verify_keys", sql, server_name, *key_ids
+        )
 
         keys = []
         for row in rows:
diff --git a/synapse/storage/push_rule.py b/synapse/storage/push_rule.py
index 1628489fa..d769db2c7 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/push_rule.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/push_rule.py
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ class PushRuleStore(SQLBaseStore):
             "WHERE user_name = ? "
             "ORDER BY priority_class DESC, priority DESC"
         )
-        rows = yield self._execute(None, sql, user_name)
+        rows = yield self._execute("get_push_rules_for_user", None, sql, user_name)
 
         dicts = []
         for r in rows:
diff --git a/synapse/storage/pusher.py b/synapse/storage/pusher.py
index 6622b4d18..587dada68 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/pusher.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/pusher.py
@@ -37,7 +37,8 @@ class PusherStore(SQLBaseStore):
         )
 
         rows = yield self._execute(
-            None, sql, app_id_and_pushkey[0], app_id_and_pushkey[1]
+            "get_pushers_by_app_id_and_pushkey", None, sql,
+            app_id_and_pushkey[0], app_id_and_pushkey[1]
         )
 
         ret = [
@@ -70,7 +71,7 @@ class PusherStore(SQLBaseStore):
             "FROM pushers"
         )
 
-        rows = yield self._execute(None, sql)
+        rows = yield self._execute("get_all_pushers", None, sql)
 
         ret = [
             {
diff --git a/synapse/storage/registration.py b/synapse/storage/registration.py
index 029b07cc6..adc8fc079 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/registration.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/registration.py
@@ -88,8 +88,7 @@ class RegistrationStore(SQLBaseStore):
         query = ("SELECT users.name, users.password_hash FROM users"
                  " WHERE users.name = ?")
         return self._execute(
-            self.cursor_to_dict,
-            query, user_id
+            "get_user_by_id", self.cursor_to_dict, query, user_id
         )
 
     def get_user_by_token(self, token):
diff --git a/synapse/storage/room.py b/synapse/storage/room.py
index 750b17a45..549c9af39 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/room.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/room.py
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ class RoomStore(SQLBaseStore):
         """
         query = RoomsTable.select_statement("room_id=?")
         return self._execute(
-            RoomsTable.decode_single_result, query, room_id,
+            "get_room", RoomsTable.decode_single_result, query, room_id,
         )
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks