diff --git a/modules/client/rooms/initialsync.cc b/modules/client/rooms/initialsync.cc
index 99c82a720..b18e99743 100644
--- a/modules/client/rooms/initialsync.cc
+++ b/modules/client/rooms/initialsync.cc
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ get__initialsync(client &client,
 	char membership_buffer[64];
 	const string_view membership
 	{
-		room.membership(membership_buffer, m::user::id{request.user_id})
+		request.user_id? room.membership(membership_buffer, m::user::id{request.user_id}) : string_view{}
 	};
 
 	//TODO: XXX