diff --git a/synapse/events/third_party_rules.py b/synapse/events/third_party_rules.py
index af5032637a..253b025c27 100644
--- a/synapse/events/third_party_rules.py
+++ b/synapse/events/third_party_rules.py
@@ -28,9 +28,14 @@ class PublicRoomsManager:
             room_id: The ID of the room.
 
         Returns:
-            Whether the room is in the public rooms directory.
+            Whether the room is in the public rooms directory. Additionally returns False
+            if the room does not exist.
         """
-        return await self._store.get_room_is_public(room_id)
+        room = await self._store.get_room(room_id)
+        if not room:
+            return False
+
+        return room.get("is_public", False)
 
     async def add_room_to_public_directory(self, room_id: str) -> None:
         """Publishes a room to the public rooms directory.
diff --git a/synapse/storage/databases/main/room.py b/synapse/storage/databases/main/room.py
index 30450819fd..717df97301 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/databases/main/room.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/databases/main/room.py
@@ -133,25 +133,6 @@ class RoomWorkerStore(SQLBaseStore):
             desc="get_public_room_ids",
         )
 
-    async def get_room_is_public(self, room_id: str) -> bool:
-        """Returns whether a given room is public.
-
-        Args:
-            room_id: The ID of the room.
-
-        Returns:
-            Whether the room is public.
-        """
-        row = await self.db_pool.simple_select_onecol(
-            table="rooms",
-            keyvalues={"room_id": room_id},
-            retcol="is_public",
-            desc="get_room_is_public",
-        )
-        if row:
-            return bool(row[0])
-        return False
-
     async def count_public_rooms(
         self,
         network_tuple: Optional[ThirdPartyInstanceID],