diff --git a/synapse/rest/consent/consent_resource.py b/synapse/rest/consent/consent_resource.py
index 4cadd71d7..89b82b059 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/consent/consent_resource.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/consent/consent_resource.py
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ class ConsentResource(Resource):
         username = parse_string(request, "u", required=False, default="")
         userhmac = None
         has_consented = False
-        public_version = username != ""
+        public_version = username == ""
         if not public_version:
             userhmac = parse_string(request, "h", required=True, encoding=None)