diff --git a/synapse/util/file_consumer.py b/synapse/util/file_consumer.py
index 479e48061..d7bbb0aeb 100644
--- a/synapse/util/file_consumer.py
+++ b/synapse/util/file_consumer.py
@@ -69,6 +69,9 @@ class BackgroundFileConsumer(object):
             streaming (bool): True if push based producer, False if pull
                 based.
         """
+        if self.producer:
+            raise Exception("registerProducer called twice")
+
         self.producer = producer
         self.streaming = streaming
         self.finished_deferred = threads.deferToThread(self._writer)