diff --git a/synapse/federation/federation_base.py b/synapse/federation/federation_base.py
index f0c7a0671..c11798093 100644
--- a/synapse/federation/federation_base.py
+++ b/synapse/federation/federation_base.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ from synapse.api.errors import Codes, SynapseError
 from synapse.crypto.event_signing import check_event_content_hash
 from synapse.events import FrozenEvent
 from synapse.events.utils import prune_event
-from synapse.http.servlet import assert_params_in_request
+from synapse.http.servlet import assert_params_in_dict
 from synapse.util import logcontext, unwrapFirstError
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ def event_from_pdu_json(pdu_json, outlier=False):
     """
     # we could probably enforce a bunch of other fields here (room_id, sender,
     # origin, etc etc)
-    assert_params_in_request(pdu_json, ('event_id', 'type', 'depth'))
+    assert_params_in_dict(pdu_json, ('event_id', 'type', 'depth'))
 
     depth = pdu_json['depth']
     if not isinstance(depth, six.integer_types):
diff --git a/synapse/http/servlet.py b/synapse/http/servlet.py
index cf6723563..882816dc8 100644
--- a/synapse/http/servlet.py
+++ b/synapse/http/servlet.py
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ def parse_json_object_from_request(request, allow_empty_body=False):
     return content
 
 
-def assert_params_in_request(body, required):
+def assert_params_in_dict(body, required):
     absent = []
     for k in required:
         if k not in body:
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/v1/admin.py b/synapse/rest/client/v1/admin.py
index 6b3c49641..01c3f2eb0 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/v1/admin.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/v1/admin.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ from twisted.internet import defer
 from synapse.api.constants import Membership
 from synapse.api.errors import AuthError, Codes, NotFoundError, SynapseError
 from synapse.http.servlet import (
-    assert_params_in_request,
+    assert_params_in_dict,
     parse_json_object_from_request,
     parse_integer,
     parse_string
@@ -297,7 +297,7 @@ class ShutdownRoomRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
             raise AuthError(403, "You are not a server admin")
 
         content = parse_json_object_from_request(request)
-        assert_params_in_request(content, ["new_room_user_id"])
+        assert_params_in_dict(content, ["new_room_user_id"])
         new_room_user_id = content["new_room_user_id"]
 
         room_creator_requester = create_requester(new_room_user_id)
@@ -459,7 +459,7 @@ class ResetPasswordRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
             raise AuthError(403, "You are not a server admin")
 
         params = parse_json_object_from_request(request)
-        assert_params_in_request(params, ["new_password"])
+        assert_params_in_dict(params, ["new_password"])
         new_password = params['new_password']
 
         logger.info("new_password: %r", new_password)
@@ -542,7 +542,7 @@ class GetUsersPaginatedRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
 
         order = "name"  # order by name in user table
         params = parse_json_object_from_request(request)
-        assert_params_in_request(params, ["limit", "start"])
+        assert_params_in_dict(params, ["limit", "start"])
         limit = params['limit']
         start = params['start']
         logger.info("limit: %s, start: %s", limit, start)
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/v1/directory.py b/synapse/rest/client/v1/directory.py
index 3003cde94..c320612ae 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/v1/directory.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/v1/directory.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ import logging
 from twisted.internet import defer
 
 from synapse.api.errors import AuthError, SynapseError
-from synapse.http.servlet import assert_params_in_request, parse_json_object_from_request
+from synapse.http.servlet import parse_json_object_from_request
 from synapse.types import RoomAlias
 
 from .base import ClientV1RestServlet, client_path_patterns
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/v1/pusher.py b/synapse/rest/client/v1/pusher.py
index 95b9252b6..182a68b1e 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/v1/pusher.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/v1/pusher.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ from synapse.api.errors import Codes, StoreError, SynapseError
 from synapse.http.server import finish_request
 from synapse.http.servlet import (
     RestServlet,
-    assert_params_in_request,
+    assert_params_in_dict,
     parse_json_object_from_request,
     parse_string,
 )
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ class PushersSetRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
             )
             defer.returnValue((200, {}))
 
-        assert_params_in_request(
+        assert_params_in_dict(
             content,
             ['kind', 'app_id', 'app_display_name',
              'device_display_name', 'pushkey', 'lang', 'data']
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/v1/register.py b/synapse/rest/client/v1/register.py
index 744ed0445..b2d5baccd 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/v1/register.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/v1/register.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ import synapse.util.stringutils as stringutils
 from synapse.api.auth import get_access_token_from_request
 from synapse.api.constants import LoginType
 from synapse.api.errors import Codes, SynapseError
-from synapse.http.servlet import assert_params_in_request, parse_json_object_from_request
+from synapse.http.servlet import assert_params_in_dict, parse_json_object_from_request
 from synapse.types import create_requester
 
 from .base import ClientV1RestServlet, client_path_patterns
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ class RegisterRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
         session = (register_json["session"]
                    if "session" in register_json else None)
         login_type = None
-        assert_params_in_request(register_json, ["type"])
+        assert_params_in_dict(register_json, ["type"])
 
         try:
             login_type = register_json["type"]
@@ -309,7 +309,7 @@ class RegisterRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
     def _do_app_service(self, request, register_json, session):
         as_token = get_access_token_from_request(request)
 
-        assert_params_in_request(register_json, ["user"])
+        assert_params_in_dict(register_json, ["user"])
         user_localpart = register_json["user"].encode("utf-8")
 
         handler = self.handlers.registration_handler
@@ -326,7 +326,7 @@ class RegisterRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def _do_shared_secret(self, request, register_json, session):
-        assert_params_in_request(register_json, ["mac", "user", "password"])
+        assert_params_in_dict(register_json, ["mac", "user", "password"])
 
         if not self.hs.config.registration_shared_secret:
             raise SynapseError(400, "Shared secret registration is not enabled")
@@ -409,7 +409,7 @@ class CreateUserRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def _do_create(self, requester, user_json):
-        assert_params_in_request(user_json, ["localpart", "displayname"])
+        assert_params_in_dict(user_json, ["localpart", "displayname"])
 
         localpart = user_json["localpart"].encode("utf-8")
         displayname = user_json["displayname"].encode("utf-8")
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/v1/room.py b/synapse/rest/client/v1/room.py
index 3050d040a..5a867b4cf 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/v1/room.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/v1/room.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ from synapse.api.errors import AuthError, Codes, SynapseError
 from synapse.api.filtering import Filter
 from synapse.events.utils import format_event_for_client_v2, serialize_event
 from synapse.http.servlet import (
-    assert_params_in_request,
+    assert_params_in_dict,
     parse_integer,
     parse_json_object_from_request,
     parse_string,
@@ -637,7 +637,7 @@ class RoomMembershipRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
 
         target = requester.user
         if membership_action in ["invite", "ban", "unban", "kick"]:
-            assert_params_in_request(content, ["user_id"])
+            assert_params_in_dict(content, ["user_id"])
             target = UserID.from_string(content["user_id"])
 
         event_content = None
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/account.py b/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/account.py
index 2952472a4..28a5e76ae 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/account.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/account.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ from synapse.api.constants import LoginType
 from synapse.api.errors import Codes, SynapseError
 from synapse.http.servlet import (
     RestServlet,
-    assert_params_in_request,
+    assert_params_in_dict,
     parse_json_object_from_request,
 )
 from synapse.util.msisdn import phone_number_to_msisdn
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ class EmailPasswordRequestTokenRestServlet(RestServlet):
     def on_POST(self, request):
         body = parse_json_object_from_request(request)
 
-        assert_params_in_request(body, [
+        assert_params_in_dict(body, [
             'id_server', 'client_secret', 'email', 'send_attempt'
         ])
 
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ class MsisdnPasswordRequestTokenRestServlet(RestServlet):
     def on_POST(self, request):
         body = parse_json_object_from_request(request)
 
-        assert_params_in_request(body, [
+        assert_params_in_dict(body, [
             'id_server', 'client_secret',
             'country', 'phone_number', 'send_attempt',
         ])
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ class PasswordRestServlet(RestServlet):
                 logger.error("Auth succeeded but no known type! %r", result.keys())
                 raise SynapseError(500, "", Codes.UNKNOWN)
 
-        assert_params_in_request(params, ["new_password"])
+        assert_params_in_dict(params, ["new_password"])
         new_password = params['new_password']
 
         yield self._set_password_handler.set_password(
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ class EmailThreepidRequestTokenRestServlet(RestServlet):
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def on_POST(self, request):
         body = parse_json_object_from_request(request)
-        assert_params_in_request(
+        assert_params_in_dict(
             body,
             ['id_server', 'client_secret', 'email', 'send_attempt'],
         )
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ class MsisdnThreepidRequestTokenRestServlet(RestServlet):
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def on_POST(self, request):
         body = parse_json_object_from_request(request)
-        assert_params_in_request(body, [
+        assert_params_in_dict(body, [
             'id_server', 'client_secret',
             'country', 'phone_number', 'send_attempt',
         ])
@@ -359,7 +359,7 @@ class ThreepidDeleteRestServlet(RestServlet):
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def on_POST(self, request):
         body = parse_json_object_from_request(request)
-        assert_params_in_request(body, ['medium', 'address'])
+        assert_params_in_dict(body, ['medium', 'address'])
 
         requester = yield self.auth.get_user_by_req(request)
         user_id = requester.user.to_string()
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/devices.py b/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/devices.py
index e346ad4ed..aded2409b 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/devices.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/devices.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ from twisted.internet import defer
 
 from synapse.api import errors
 from synapse.http.servlet import (
-    assert_params_in_request,
+    assert_params_in_dict,
     parse_json_object_from_request,
     RestServlet
 )
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ class DeleteDevicesRestServlet(RestServlet):
             else:
                 raise e
 
-        assert_params_in_request(body, ["devices"])
+        assert_params_in_dict(body, ["devices"])
 
         yield self.auth_handler.validate_user_via_ui_auth(
             requester, body, self.hs.get_ip_from_request(request),
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/register.py b/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/register.py
index e2023e3a6..0d0eeb8c0 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/register.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/register.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ from synapse.api.constants import LoginType
 from synapse.api.errors import Codes, SynapseError, UnrecognizedRequestError
 from synapse.http.servlet import (
     RestServlet,
-    assert_params_in_request,
+    assert_params_in_dict,
     parse_json_object_from_request,
     parse_string,
 )
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ class EmailRegisterRequestTokenRestServlet(RestServlet):
     def on_POST(self, request):
         body = parse_json_object_from_request(request)
 
-        assert_params_in_request(body, [
+        assert_params_in_dict(body, [
             'id_server', 'client_secret', 'email', 'send_attempt'
         ])
 
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ class MsisdnRegisterRequestTokenRestServlet(RestServlet):
     def on_POST(self, request):
         body = parse_json_object_from_request(request)
 
-        assert_params_in_request(body, [
+        assert_params_in_dict(body, [
             'id_server', 'client_secret',
             'country', 'phone_number',
             'send_attempt',
@@ -387,7 +387,7 @@ class RegisterRestServlet(RestServlet):
             add_msisdn = False
         else:
             # NB: This may be from the auth handler and NOT from the POST
-            assert_params_in_request(params, ["password"])
+            assert_params_in_dict(params, ["password"])
 
             desired_username = params.get("username", None)
             new_password = params.get("password", None)
@@ -565,7 +565,7 @@ class RegisterRestServlet(RestServlet):
             defer.Deferred:
         """
         try:
-            assert_params_in_request(threepid, ['medium', 'address', 'validated_at'])
+            assert_params_in_dict(threepid, ['medium', 'address', 'validated_at'])
         except SynapseError as ex:
             if ex.errcode == Codes.MISSING_PARAM:
                 # This will only happen if the ID server returns a malformed response
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/report_event.py b/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/report_event.py
index 0cc2a71c3..95d2a71ec 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/report_event.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/report_event.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ from twisted.internet import defer
 from synapse.api.errors import Codes, SynapseError
 from synapse.http.servlet import (
     RestServlet,
-    assert_params_in_request,
+    assert_params_in_dict,
     parse_json_object_from_request,
 )
 
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ class ReportEventRestServlet(RestServlet):
         user_id = requester.user.to_string()
 
         body = parse_json_object_from_request(request)
-        assert_params_in_request(body, ("reason", "score"))
+        assert_params_in_dict(body, ("reason", "score"))
 
         if not isinstance(body["reason"], string_types):
             raise SynapseError(