diff --git a/synapse/app/federation_reader.py b/synapse/app/federation_reader.py
index 228a297fb..ea594f0f1 100644
--- a/synapse/app/federation_reader.py
+++ b/synapse/app/federation_reader.py
@@ -99,7 +99,8 @@ class FederationReaderServer(HomeServer):
                 listener_config,
                 root_resource,
                 self.version_string,
-            )
+            ),
+            reactor=self.get_reactor()
         )
 
         logger.info("Synapse federation reader now listening on port %d", port)