diff --git a/synapse/replication/http/federation.py b/synapse/replication/http/federation.py
index 2e16c69666..0f0a07c422 100644
--- a/synapse/replication/http/federation.py
+++ b/synapse/replication/http/federation.py
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ class ReplicationFederationSendEventsRestServlet(ReplicationEndpoint):
             event_and_contexts = []
             for event_payload in event_payloads:
                 event_dict = event_payload["event"]
-                format_ver = content["event_format_version"]
+                format_ver = event_payload["event_format_version"]
                 internal_metadata = event_payload["internal_metadata"]
                 rejected_reason = event_payload["rejected_reason"]