diff --git a/include/ircd/m/room.h b/include/ircd/m/room.h
index be230d301..0e119acae 100644
--- a/include/ircd/m/room.h
+++ b/include/ircd/m/room.h
@@ -441,9 +441,14 @@ struct ircd::m::room::power
 	size_t count_levels() const;
 
 	// This suite queries with full defaulting logic as per the spec. These
-	// always return suitable results.
+	// always return suitable results. When determining power to change a state
+	// event rather than a non-state event, the state_key must always be
+	// defined. If the state_key is a default constructed string_view{} (which
+	// means !defined(state_key) and is not the same as string_view{""} for
+	// the common state_key="") then the interface considers your query for
+	// a non-state event rather than a state_event. Be careful.
 	int64_t level(const string_view &prop) const;
-	int64_t level_state(const string_view &type, const string_view &state_key = {}) const;
+	int64_t level_event(const string_view &type, const string_view &state_key) const;
 	int64_t level_event(const string_view &type) const;
 	int64_t level_user(const m::id::user &) const;
 
diff --git a/ircd/m/room.cc b/ircd/m/room.cc
index d03b0d866..bd03c74b2 100644
--- a/ircd/m/room.cc
+++ b/ircd/m/room.cc
@@ -2060,10 +2060,8 @@ const
 
 	const auto &required_level
 	{
-		prop == "events" && defined(state_key)?
-			level_state(type, state_key):
 		prop == "events"?
-			level_event(type):
+			level_event(type, state_key):
 			level(prop)
 	};
 
@@ -2144,10 +2142,13 @@ catch(const json::error &e)
 }
 
 int64_t
-ircd::m::room::power::level_state(const string_view &type,
+ircd::m::room::power::level_event(const string_view &type,
                                   const string_view &state_key)
 const try
 {
+	if(!defined(state_key))
+		return level_event(type);
+
 	int64_t ret
 	{
 		default_power_level