diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/register.py b/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/register.py
index 38a739f2f..6a7cd96ea 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/register.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/register.py
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ class UsernameAvailabilityRestServlet(RestServlet):
         )
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
-    def on_GET(self, request):
+    def on_POST(self, request):
         ip = self.hs.get_ip_from_request(request)
         with self.ratelimiter.ratelimit(ip) as wait_deferred:
             yield wait_deferred