diff --git a/synapse/notifier.py b/synapse/notifier.py
index 2b1fdc0ab6..1a6a2c780c 100644
--- a/synapse/notifier.py
+++ b/synapse/notifier.py
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ class _NotificationListener(object):
         self.deferred = deferred
         self.created = int(time.time() * 1000)
         self.timeout = timeout
-        self.notified = False
+        self.have_notified = False
 
     def notified(self):
         return self.deferred.called
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ class _NotificationListener(object):
     def notify(self, token):
         """ Inform whoever is listening about the new events.
         """
-        self.notified = True
+        self.have_notified = True
         try:
             self.deferred.callback(token)
         except defer.AlreadyCalledError: