diff --git a/changelog.d/8354.misc b/changelog.d/8354.misc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1d33cde2da
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/8354.misc
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Fix bad merge from `release-v1.20.0` branch to `develop`.
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/pagination.py b/synapse/handlers/pagination.py
index f132ed3368..a0b3bdb5e0 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/pagination.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/pagination.py
@@ -385,7 +385,7 @@ class PaginationHandler:
                         )
 
                 await self.hs.get_handlers().federation_handler.maybe_backfill(
-                    room_id, curr_topo, limit=source_config.limit,
+                    room_id, curr_topo, limit=pagin_config.limit,
                 )
 
             to_room_key = None