diff --git a/synapse/util/logcontext.py b/synapse/util/logcontext.py
index d59adc236..127581a0b 100644
--- a/synapse/util/logcontext.py
+++ b/synapse/util/logcontext.py
@@ -308,7 +308,13 @@ def run_in_background(f, *args, **kwargs):
     on.
     """
     current = LoggingContext.current_context()
-    res = f(*args, **kwargs)
+    try:
+        res = f(*args, **kwargs)
+    except:   # noqa: E722
+        # the assumption here is that the caller doesn't want to be disturbed
+        # by synchronous exceptions, so let's turn them into Failures.
+        return defer.fail()
+
     if isinstance(res, defer.Deferred) and not res.called:
         # The function will have reset the context before returning, so
         # we need to restore it now.