diff --git a/synapse/rest/room.py b/synapse/rest/room.py
index 4f6d039b61..cc6ffb9aff 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/room.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/room.py
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ class RoomStateEventRestServlet(RestServlet):
         content = _parse_json(request)
 
         event = self.event_factory.create_event(
-            etype=urllib.unquote(event_type),
+            etype=event_type,  # already urldecoded
             content=content,
             room_id=urllib.unquote(room_id),
             user_id=user.to_string(),