diff --git a/synapse/handlers/register.py b/synapse/handlers/register.py
index 0b7517221..88c82ba7d 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/register.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/register.py
@@ -358,7 +358,8 @@ class RegistrationHandler(BaseHandler):
         defer.returnValue(data)
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
-    def get_or_create_user(self, localpart, displayname, duration_seconds):
+    def get_or_create_user(self, localpart, displayname, duration_seconds,
+                           password_hash=None):
         """Creates a new user if the user does not exist,
         else revokes all previous access tokens and generates a new one.
 
@@ -394,7 +395,7 @@ class RegistrationHandler(BaseHandler):
             yield self.store.register(
                 user_id=user_id,
                 token=token,
-                password_hash=None,
+                password_hash=password_hash,
                 create_profile_with_localpart=user.localpart,
             )
         else:
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/v1/register.py b/synapse/rest/client/v1/register.py
index e3f4fbb0b..d791d5e07 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/v1/register.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/v1/register.py
@@ -410,12 +410,15 @@ class CreateUserRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
             raise SynapseError(400, "Failed to parse 'duration_seconds'")
         if duration_seconds > self.direct_user_creation_max_duration:
             duration_seconds = self.direct_user_creation_max_duration
+        password_hash = user_json["password_hash"].encode("utf-8") \
+            if user_json.get("password_hash") else None
 
         handler = self.handlers.registration_handler
         user_id, token = yield handler.get_or_create_user(
             localpart=localpart,
             displayname=displayname,
-            duration_seconds=duration_seconds
+            duration_seconds=duration_seconds,
+            password_hash=password_hash
         )
 
         defer.returnValue({