diff --git a/synapse/storage/roommember.py b/synapse/storage/roommember.py
index 275fef1f66..f913abf8d6 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/roommember.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/roommember.py
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ from canonicaljson import json
 from twisted.internet import defer
 
 from synapse.api.constants import EventTypes, Membership
+from synapse.metrics.background_process_metrics import run_as_background_process
+from synapse.storage._base import LoggingTransaction
 from synapse.storage.events_worker import EventsWorkerStore
 from synapse.types import get_domain_from_id
 from synapse.util.async_helpers import Linearizer
@@ -57,6 +59,49 @@ _CURRENT_STATE_MEMBERSHIP_UPDATE_NAME = "current_state_events_membership"
 
 
 class RoomMemberWorkerStore(EventsWorkerStore):
+    def __init__(self, db_conn, hs):
+        super(RoomMemberWorkerStore, self).__init__(db_conn, hs)
+
+        # Is the current_state_events.membership up to date? Or is the
+        # background update still running?
+        self._current_state_events_membership_up_to_date = False
+
+        txn = LoggingTransaction(
+            db_conn.cursor(),
+            name="_check_safe_current_state_events_membership_updated",
+            database_engine=self.database_engine,
+            after_callbacks=[],
+            exception_callbacks=[],
+        )
+        self._check_safe_current_state_events_membership_updated_txn(txn)
+        txn.close()
+
+    def _check_safe_current_state_events_membership_updated_txn(self, txn):
+        """Checks if it is safe to assume the new current_state_events
+        membership column is up to date
+        """
+
+        pending_update = self._simple_select_one_txn(
+            txn,
+            table="background_updates",
+            keyvalues={"update_name": _CURRENT_STATE_MEMBERSHIP_UPDATE_NAME},
+            retcols=["update_name"],
+            allow_none=True,
+        )
+
+        self._current_state_events_membership_up_to_date = not pending_update
+
+        # If the update is still running, reschedule to run.
+        if pending_update:
+            self._clock.call_later(
+                15.0,
+                run_as_background_process,
+                "_check_safe_current_state_events_membership_updated",
+                self.runInteraction,
+                "_check_safe_current_state_events_membership_updated",
+                self._check_safe_current_state_events_membership_updated_txn,
+            )
+
     @cachedInlineCallbacks(max_entries=100000, iterable=True, cache_context=True)
     def get_hosts_in_room(self, room_id, cache_context):
         """Returns the set of all hosts currently in the room