diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/v1/room.py b/synapse/rest/client/v1/room.py
index 3c933f1620..2d7d89da04 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/v1/room.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/v1/room.py
@@ -120,6 +120,8 @@ class RoomStateEventRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def on_GET(self, request, room_id, event_type, state_key):
         requester = yield self.auth.get_user_by_req(request, allow_guest=True)
+        format = parse_string(request, "format", default="content",
+                              allowed_values=["content", "event"])
 
         msg_handler = self.handlers.message_handler
         data = yield msg_handler.get_room_data(
@@ -134,7 +136,11 @@ class RoomStateEventRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
             raise SynapseError(
                 404, "Event not found.", errcode=Codes.NOT_FOUND
             )
-        defer.returnValue((200, data.get_dict()["content"]))
+
+        if format == "event":
+            defer.returnValue((200, data.get_dict()))
+        elif format == "content":
+            defer.returnValue((200, data.get_dict()["content"]))
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def on_PUT(self, request, room_id, event_type, state_key, txn_id=None):