diff --git a/synapse/crypto/keyring.py b/synapse/crypto/keyring.py
index f4db7b8a05..2b4faee4c1 100644
--- a/synapse/crypto/keyring.py
+++ b/synapse/crypto/keyring.py
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ from synapse.api.errors import SynapseError, Codes
 
 from synapse.util.retryutils import get_retry_limiter
 
+from synapse.util.async import create_observer
+
 from OpenSSL import crypto
 
 import logging
@@ -38,6 +40,8 @@ class Keyring(object):
         self.clock = hs.get_clock()
         self.hs = hs
 
+        self.key_downloads = {}
+
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def verify_json_for_server(self, server_name, json_object):
         logger.debug("Verifying for %s", server_name)
@@ -97,6 +101,22 @@ class Keyring(object):
             defer.returnValue(cached[0])
             return
 
+        download = self.key_downloads.get(server_name)
+
+        if download is None:
+            download = self._get_server_verify_key_impl(server_name, key_ids)
+            self.key_downloads[server_name] = download
+
+            @download.addBoth
+            def callback(ret):
+                del self.key_downloads[server_name]
+                return ret
+
+        r = yield create_observer(download)
+        defer.returnValue(r)
+
+    @defer.inlineCallbacks
+    def _get_server_verify_key_impl(self, server_name, key_ids):
         # Try to fetch the key from the remote server.
 
         limiter = yield get_retry_limiter(
diff --git a/synapse/rest/media/v1/base_resource.py b/synapse/rest/media/v1/base_resource.py
index edd4f78024..08c8d75af4 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/media/v1/base_resource.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/media/v1/base_resource.py
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ from twisted.internet import defer
 from twisted.web.resource import Resource
 from twisted.protocols.basic import FileSender
 
+from synapse.util.async import create_observer
+
 import os
 
 import logging
@@ -87,7 +89,7 @@ class BaseMediaResource(Resource):
             def callback(media_info):
                 del self.downloads[key]
                 return media_info
-        return download
+        return create_observer(download)
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def _get_remote_media_impl(self, server_name, media_id):
diff --git a/synapse/util/async.py b/synapse/util/async.py
index c4fe5d522f..d8febdb90c 100644
--- a/synapse/util/async.py
+++ b/synapse/util/async.py
@@ -32,3 +32,22 @@ def run_on_reactor():
     iteration of the main loop
     """
     return sleep(0)
+
+
+def create_observer(deferred):
+    """Creates a deferred that observes the result or failure of the given
+     deferred *without* affecting the given deferred.
+    """
+    d = defer.Deferred()
+
+    def callback(r):
+        d.callback(r)
+        return r
+
+    def errback(f):
+        d.errback(f)
+        return f
+
+    deferred.addCallbacks(callback, errback)
+
+    return d