diff --git a/synapse/event_auth.py b/synapse/event_auth.py
index 36a48870a0..f512d88145 100644
--- a/synapse/event_auth.py
+++ b/synapse/event_auth.py
@@ -370,28 +370,22 @@ def get_send_level(etype, state_key, power_levels_event):
         int: power level required to send this event.
     """
 
-    send_level_event = power_levels_event  # todo: rename refs below
-    send_level = None
-    if send_level_event:
-        send_level = send_level_event.content.get("events", {}).get(
-            etype
-        )
-        if send_level is None:
-            if state_key is not None:
-                send_level = send_level_event.content.get(
-                    "state_default", 50
-                )
-            else:
-                send_level = send_level_event.content.get(
-                    "events_default", 0
-                )
-
-    if send_level:
-        send_level = int(send_level)
+    if power_levels_event:
+        power_levels_content = power_levels_event.content
     else:
-        send_level = 0
+        power_levels_content = {}
 
-    return send_level
+    # see if we have a custom level for this event type
+    send_level = power_levels_content.get("events", {}).get(etype)
+
+    # otherwise, fall back to the state_default/events_default.
+    if send_level is None:
+        if state_key is not None:
+            send_level = power_levels_content.get("state_default", 50)
+        else:
+            send_level = power_levels_content.get("events_default", 0)
+
+    return int(send_level)
 
 
 def _can_send_event(event, auth_events):
diff --git a/tests/test_event_auth.py b/tests/test_event_auth.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3d756b0d85
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_event_auth.py
@@ -0,0 +1,153 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+# Copyright 2018 New Vector Ltd
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+from synapse import event_auth
+from synapse.api.errors import AuthError
+from synapse.events import FrozenEvent
+import unittest
+
+
+class EventAuthTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
+    @unittest.DEBUG
+    def test_random_users_cannot_send_state_before_first_pl(self):
+        """
+        Check that, before the first PL lands, the creator is the only user
+        that can send a state event.
+        """
+        creator = "@creator:example.com"
+        joiner = "@joiner:example.com"
+        auth_events = {
+            ("m.room.create", ""): _create_event(creator),
+            ("m.room.member", creator): _join_event(creator),
+            ("m.room.member", joiner): _join_event(joiner),
+        }
+
+        # creator should be able to send state
+        event_auth.check(
+            _random_state_event(creator), auth_events,
+            do_sig_check=False,
+        )
+
+        # joiner should not be able to send state
+        self.assertRaises(
+            AuthError,
+            event_auth.check,
+            _random_state_event(joiner),
+            auth_events,
+            do_sig_check=False,
+        ),
+
+    @unittest.DEBUG
+    def test_state_default_level(self):
+        """
+        Check that users above the state_default level can send state and
+        those below cannot
+        """
+        creator = "@creator:example.com"
+        pleb = "@joiner:example.com"
+        king = "@joiner2:example.com"
+
+        auth_events = {
+            ("m.room.create", ""): _create_event(creator),
+            ("m.room.member", creator): _join_event(creator),
+            ("m.room.power_levels", ""): _power_levels_event(creator, {
+                "state_default": "30",
+                "users": {
+                    pleb: "29",
+                    king: "30",
+                },
+            }),
+            ("m.room.member", pleb): _join_event(pleb),
+            ("m.room.member", king): _join_event(king),
+        }
+
+        # pleb should not be able to send state
+        self.assertRaises(
+            AuthError,
+            event_auth.check,
+            _random_state_event(pleb),
+            auth_events,
+            do_sig_check=False,
+        ),
+
+        # king should be able to send state
+        event_auth.check(
+            _random_state_event(king), auth_events,
+            do_sig_check=False,
+        )
+
+
+# helpers for making events
+
+TEST_ROOM_ID = "!test:room"
+
+
+def _create_event(user_id):
+    return FrozenEvent({
+        "room_id": TEST_ROOM_ID,
+        "event_id": _get_event_id(),
+        "type": "m.room.create",
+        "sender": user_id,
+        "content": {
+            "creator": user_id,
+        },
+    })
+
+
+def _join_event(user_id):
+    return FrozenEvent({
+        "room_id": TEST_ROOM_ID,
+        "event_id": _get_event_id(),
+        "type": "m.room.member",
+        "sender": user_id,
+        "state_key": user_id,
+        "content": {
+            "membership": "join",
+        },
+    })
+
+
+def _power_levels_event(sender, content):
+    return FrozenEvent({
+        "room_id": TEST_ROOM_ID,
+        "event_id": _get_event_id(),
+        "type": "m.room.power_levels",
+        "sender": sender,
+        "state_key": "",
+        "content": content,
+    })
+
+
+def _random_state_event(sender):
+    return FrozenEvent({
+        "room_id": TEST_ROOM_ID,
+        "event_id": _get_event_id(),
+        "type": "test.state",
+        "sender": sender,
+        "state_key": "",
+        "content": {
+            "membership": "join",
+        },
+    })
+
+
+event_count = 0
+
+
+def _get_event_id():
+    global event_count
+    c = event_count
+    event_count += 1
+    return "!%i:example.com" % (c, )