diff --git a/synapse/handlers/federation.py b/synapse/handlers/federation.py
index 15ba417e0..8aceac28c 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/federation.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/federation.py
@@ -201,10 +201,18 @@ class FederationHandler(BaseHandler):
                 target_user = UserID.from_string(target_user_id)
                 extra_users.append(target_user)
 
-            yield self.notifier.on_new_room_event(
+            d = self.notifier.on_new_room_event(
                 event, extra_users=extra_users
             )
 
+            def log_failure(f):
+                logger.warn(
+                    "Failed to notify about %s: %s",
+                    event.event_id, f.value
+                )
+
+            d.addErrback(log_failure)
+
         if event.type == EventTypes.Member:
             if event.membership == Membership.JOIN:
                 user = UserID.from_string(event.state_key)
@@ -427,10 +435,18 @@ class FederationHandler(BaseHandler):
                 auth_events=auth_events,
             )
 
-            yield self.notifier.on_new_room_event(
+            d = self.notifier.on_new_room_event(
                 new_event, extra_users=[joinee]
             )
 
+            def log_failure(f):
+                logger.warn(
+                    "Failed to notify about %s: %s",
+                    new_event.event_id, f.value
+                )
+
+            d.addErrback(log_failure)
+
             logger.debug("Finished joining %s to %s", joinee, room_id)
         finally:
             room_queue = self.room_queues[room_id]
@@ -500,10 +516,18 @@ class FederationHandler(BaseHandler):
             target_user = UserID.from_string(target_user_id)
             extra_users.append(target_user)
 
-        yield self.notifier.on_new_room_event(
+        d = self.notifier.on_new_room_event(
             event, extra_users=extra_users
         )
 
+        def log_failure(f):
+            logger.warn(
+                "Failed to notify about %s: %s",
+                event.event_id, f.value
+            )
+
+        d.addErrback(log_failure)
+
         if event.type == EventTypes.Member:
             if event.content["membership"] == Membership.JOIN:
                 user = UserID.from_string(event.state_key)
@@ -574,10 +598,18 @@ class FederationHandler(BaseHandler):
         )
 
         target_user = UserID.from_string(event.state_key)
-        yield self.notifier.on_new_room_event(
+        d = self.notifier.on_new_room_event(
             event, extra_users=[target_user],
         )
 
+        def log_failure(f):
+            logger.warn(
+                "Failed to notify about %s: %s",
+                event.event_id, f.value
+            )
+
+        d.addErrback(log_failure)
+
         defer.returnValue(event)
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks