diff --git a/synapse/handlers/appservice.py b/synapse/handlers/appservice.py
index 5ce752a19..543bf28ae 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/appservice.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/appservice.py
@@ -70,7 +70,6 @@ class ApplicationServicesHandler(object):
         with Measure(self.clock, "notify_interested_services"):
             self.is_processing = True
             try:
-                upper_bound = self.current_max
                 limit = 100
                 while True:
                     upper_bound, events = yield self.store.get_new_events_for_appservice(