diff --git a/changelog.d/4505.misc b/changelog.d/4505.misc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..994801fd1e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/4505.misc
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+ Synapse will now take advantage of native UPSERT functionality in PostgreSQL 9.5+ and SQLite 3.24+.
diff --git a/synapse/storage/_base.py b/synapse/storage/_base.py
index 5109bc3e2e..4872ff55b6 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/_base.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/_base.py
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ class SQLBaseStore(object):
             self._unsafe_to_upsert_tables.discard("user_ips")
 
         # If there's any tables left to check, reschedule to run.
-        if self.updates:
+        if updates:
             self._clock.call_later(
                 15.0,
                 run_as_background_process,