diff --git a/synapse/handlers/presence.py b/synapse/handlers/presence.py
index c3cfc9441..80a2c0ceb 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/presence.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/presence.py
@@ -995,6 +995,18 @@ def handle_update(prev_state, new_state, is_mine, wheel_timer, now):
                 then=new_state.last_active_ts + IDLE_TIMER
             )
 
+            active = now - new_state.last_active_ts < LAST_ACTIVE_GRANULARITY
+            new_state = new_state.copy_and_replace(
+                currently_active=active,
+            )
+
+            if active:
+                wheel_timer.insert(
+                    now=now,
+                    obj=user_id,
+                    then=new_state.last_active_ts + LAST_ACTIVE_GRANULARITY
+                )
+
         if new_state.state != PresenceState.OFFLINE:
             # User has stopped syncing
             wheel_timer.insert(
@@ -1018,12 +1030,6 @@ def handle_update(prev_state, new_state, is_mine, wheel_timer, now):
             then=new_state.last_federation_update_ts + FEDERATION_TIMEOUT
         )
 
-    if new_state.state == PresenceState.ONLINE:
-        active = now - new_state.last_active_ts < LAST_ACTIVE_GRANULARITY
-        new_state = new_state.copy_and_replace(
-            currently_active=active,
-        )
-
     # Check whether the change was something worth notifying about
     if should_notify(prev_state, new_state):
         new_state = new_state.copy_and_replace(
diff --git a/tests/handlers/test_presence.py b/tests/handlers/test_presence.py
index 197298db1..87c795fcf 100644
--- a/tests/handlers/test_presence.py
+++ b/tests/handlers/test_presence.py
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ class PresenceUpdateTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEquals(new_state.status_msg, state.status_msg)
         self.assertEquals(state.last_federation_update_ts, now)
 
-        self.assertEquals(wheel_timer.insert.call_count, 2)
+        self.assertEquals(wheel_timer.insert.call_count, 3)
         wheel_timer.insert.assert_has_calls([
             call(
                 now=now,
@@ -60,7 +60,12 @@ class PresenceUpdateTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
                 now=now,
                 obj=user_id,
                 then=new_state.last_user_sync_ts + SYNC_ONLINE_TIMEOUT
-            )
+            ),
+            call(
+                now=now,
+                obj=user_id,
+                then=new_state.last_active_ts + LAST_ACTIVE_GRANULARITY
+            ),
         ], any_order=True)
 
     def test_online_to_online(self):
@@ -91,7 +96,7 @@ class PresenceUpdateTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEquals(new_state.status_msg, state.status_msg)
         self.assertEquals(state.last_federation_update_ts, now)
 
-        self.assertEquals(wheel_timer.insert.call_count, 2)
+        self.assertEquals(wheel_timer.insert.call_count, 3)
         wheel_timer.insert.assert_has_calls([
             call(
                 now=now,
@@ -102,7 +107,12 @@ class PresenceUpdateTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
                 now=now,
                 obj=user_id,
                 then=new_state.last_user_sync_ts + SYNC_ONLINE_TIMEOUT
-            )
+            ),
+            call(
+                now=now,
+                obj=user_id,
+                then=new_state.last_active_ts + LAST_ACTIVE_GRANULARITY
+            ),
         ], any_order=True)
 
     def test_online_to_online_last_active(self):
@@ -153,6 +163,7 @@ class PresenceUpdateTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         prev_state = UserPresenceState.default(user_id)
         prev_state = prev_state.copy_and_replace(
             state=PresenceState.ONLINE,
+            last_active_ts=now,
         )
 
         new_state = prev_state.copy_and_replace(