diff --git a/changelog.d/4076.misc b/changelog.d/4076.misc
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9dd000dec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/4076.misc
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Correctly manage logcontexts during startup to fix some "Unexpected logging context" warnings
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/synapse/app/homeserver.py b/synapse/app/homeserver.py
index e3f0d99a3..73ab267e8 100755
--- a/synapse/app/homeserver.py
+++ b/synapse/app/homeserver.py
@@ -530,10 +530,13 @@ def run(hs):
     clock.looping_call(generate_user_daily_visit_stats, 5 * 60 * 1000)
 
     # monthly active user limiting functionality
-    clock.looping_call(
-        hs.get_datastore().reap_monthly_active_users, 1000 * 60 * 60
-    )
-    hs.get_datastore().reap_monthly_active_users()
+    def reap_monthly_active_users():
+        return run_as_background_process(
+            "reap_monthly_active_users",
+            hs.get_datastore().reap_monthly_active_users,
+        )
+    clock.looping_call(reap_monthly_active_users, 1000 * 60 * 60)
+    reap_monthly_active_users()
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def generate_monthly_active_users():
@@ -547,12 +550,23 @@ def run(hs):
         registered_reserved_users_mau_gauge.set(float(reserved_count))
         max_mau_gauge.set(float(hs.config.max_mau_value))
 
-    hs.get_datastore().initialise_reserved_users(
-        hs.config.mau_limits_reserved_threepids
+    def start_generate_monthly_active_users():
+        return run_as_background_process(
+            "generate_monthly_active_users",
+            generate_monthly_active_users,
+        )
+
+    # XXX is this really supposed to be a background process? it looks
+    # like it needs to complete before some of the other stuff runs.
+    run_as_background_process(
+        "initialise_reserved_users",
+        hs.get_datastore().initialise_reserved_users,
+        hs.config.mau_limits_reserved_threepids,
     )
-    generate_monthly_active_users()
+
+    start_generate_monthly_active_users()
     if hs.config.limit_usage_by_mau:
-        clock.looping_call(generate_monthly_active_users, 5 * 60 * 1000)
+        clock.looping_call(start_generate_monthly_active_users, 5 * 60 * 1000)
     # End of monthly active user settings
 
     if hs.config.report_stats: