diff --git a/synapse/handlers/sync.py b/synapse/handlers/sync.py
index 1e8a50514b..8df66b0fcf 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/sync.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/sync.py
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ from six import itervalues, iteritems
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
+SYNC_RESPONSE_CACHE_MS = 2 * 60 * 1000
 
 SyncConfig = collections.namedtuple("SyncConfig", [
     "user",
@@ -178,7 +179,9 @@ class SyncHandler(object):
         self.presence_handler = hs.get_presence_handler()
         self.event_sources = hs.get_event_sources()
         self.clock = hs.get_clock()
-        self.response_cache = ResponseCache(hs, "sync")
+        self.response_cache = ResponseCache(
+            hs, "sync", timeout_ms=SYNC_RESPONSE_CACHE_MS,
+        )
         self.state = hs.get_state_handler()
 
     def wait_for_sync_for_user(self, sync_config, since_token=None, timeout=0,