diff --git a/synapse/handlers/__init__.py b/synapse/handlers/__init__.py
index 53213cdccf..8f8fd82eb0 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/__init__.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/__init__.py
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ from .register import RegistrationHandler
 from .room import (
     RoomCreationHandler, RoomContextHandler,
 )
-from .room_member import RoomMemberHandler
 from .message import MessageHandler
 from .federation import FederationHandler
 from .directory import DirectoryHandler
@@ -49,7 +48,6 @@ class Handlers(object):
         self.registration_handler = RegistrationHandler(hs)
         self.message_handler = MessageHandler(hs)
         self.room_creation_handler = RoomCreationHandler(hs)
-        self.room_member_handler = RoomMemberHandler(hs)
         self.federation_handler = FederationHandler(hs)
         self.directory_handler = DirectoryHandler(hs)
         self.admin_handler = AdminHandler(hs)
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/_base.py b/synapse/handlers/_base.py
index faa5609c0c..e089e66fde 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/_base.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/_base.py
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ class BaseHandler(object):
                 # homeserver.
                 requester = synapse.types.create_requester(
                     target_user, is_guest=True)
-                handler = self.hs.get_handlers().room_member_handler
+                handler = self.hs.get_room_member_handler()
                 yield handler.update_membership(
                     requester,
                     target_user,
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/federation.py b/synapse/handlers/federation.py
index 8832ba58bc..520612683e 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/federation.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/federation.py
@@ -2153,7 +2153,7 @@ class FederationHandler(BaseHandler):
                 raise e
 
             yield self._check_signature(event, context)
-            member_handler = self.hs.get_handlers().room_member_handler
+            member_handler = self.hs.get_room_member_handler()
             yield member_handler.send_membership_event(None, event, context)
         else:
             destinations = set(x.split(":", 1)[-1] for x in (sender_user_id, room_id))
@@ -2197,7 +2197,7 @@ class FederationHandler(BaseHandler):
         # TODO: Make sure the signatures actually are correct.
         event.signatures.update(returned_invite.signatures)
 
-        member_handler = self.hs.get_handlers().room_member_handler
+        member_handler = self.hs.get_room_member_handler()
         yield member_handler.send_membership_event(None, event, context)
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/profile.py b/synapse/handlers/profile.py
index 9800e24453..c9c2879038 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/profile.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/profile.py
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ class ProfileHandler(BaseHandler):
         )
 
         for room_id in room_ids:
-            handler = self.hs.get_handlers().room_member_handler
+            handler = self.hs.get_room_member_handler()
             try:
                 # Assume the target_user isn't a guest,
                 # because we don't let guests set profile or avatar data.
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/room.py b/synapse/handlers/room.py
index 6ab020bf41..6c425828c1 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/room.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/room.py
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ class RoomCreationHandler(BaseHandler):
 
         creation_content = config.get("creation_content", {})
 
-        room_member_handler = self.hs.get_handlers().room_member_handler
+        room_member_handler = self.hs.get_room_member_handler()
 
         yield self._send_events_for_new_room(
             requester,
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ class RoomCreationHandler(BaseHandler):
             id_server = invite_3pid["id_server"]
             address = invite_3pid["address"]
             medium = invite_3pid["medium"]
-            yield self.hs.get_handlers().room_member_handler.do_3pid_invite(
+            yield self.hs.get_room_member_handler().do_3pid_invite(
                 room_id,
                 requester.user,
                 medium,
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/room_member.py b/synapse/handlers/room_member.py
index 37dc5e99ab..7ecdf87246 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/room_member.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/room_member.py
@@ -30,24 +30,32 @@ from synapse.api.errors import AuthError, SynapseError, Codes
 from synapse.types import UserID, RoomID
 from synapse.util.async import Linearizer
 from synapse.util.distributor import user_left_room, user_joined_room
-from ._base import BaseHandler
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 id_server_scheme = "https://"
 
 
-class RoomMemberHandler(BaseHandler):
+class RoomMemberHandler(object):
     # TODO(paul): This handler currently contains a messy conflation of
     #   low-level API that works on UserID objects and so on, and REST-level
     #   API that takes ID strings and returns pagination chunks. These concerns
     #   ought to be separated out a lot better.
 
     def __init__(self, hs):
-        super(RoomMemberHandler, self).__init__(hs)
+        self.hs = hs
+        self.store = hs.get_datastore()
+        self.auth = hs.get_auth()
+        self.state_handler = hs.get_state_handler()
+        self.config = hs.config
+        self.simple_http_client = hs.get_simple_http_client()
 
+        self.federation_handler = hs.get_handlers().federation_handler
+        self.directory_handler = hs.get_handlers().directory_handler
+        self.registration_handler = hs.get_handlers().registration_handler
         self.profile_handler = hs.get_profile_handler()
         self.event_creation_hander = hs.get_event_creation_handler()
+        self.replication_layer = hs.get_replication_layer()
 
         self.member_linearizer = Linearizer(name="member")
 
@@ -138,7 +146,7 @@ class RoomMemberHandler(BaseHandler):
         # join dance for now, since we're kinda implicitly checking
         # that we are allowed to join when we decide whether or not we
         # need to do the invite/join dance.
-        yield self.hs.get_handlers().federation_handler.do_invite_join(
+        yield self.federation_handler.do_invite_join(
             remote_room_hosts,
             room_id,
             user.to_string(),
@@ -204,8 +212,7 @@ class RoomMemberHandler(BaseHandler):
         # if this is a join with a 3pid signature, we may need to turn a 3pid
         # invite into a normal invite before we can handle the join.
         if third_party_signed is not None:
-            replication = self.hs.get_replication_layer()
-            yield replication.exchange_third_party_invite(
+            yield self.replication_layer.exchange_third_party_invite(
                 third_party_signed["sender"],
                 target.to_string(),
                 room_id,
@@ -226,7 +233,7 @@ class RoomMemberHandler(BaseHandler):
                 requester.user,
             )
             if not is_requester_admin:
-                if self.hs.config.block_non_admin_invites:
+                if self.config.block_non_admin_invites:
                     logger.info(
                         "Blocking invite: user is not admin and non-admin "
                         "invites disabled"
@@ -321,7 +328,7 @@ class RoomMemberHandler(BaseHandler):
                 else:
                     # send the rejection to the inviter's HS.
                     remote_room_hosts = remote_room_hosts + [inviter.domain]
-                    fed_handler = self.hs.get_handlers().federation_handler
+                    fed_handler = self.federation_handler
                     try:
                         ret = yield fed_handler.do_remotely_reject_invite(
                             remote_room_hosts,
@@ -477,7 +484,7 @@ class RoomMemberHandler(BaseHandler):
         Raises:
             SynapseError if room alias could not be found.
         """
-        directory_handler = self.hs.get_handlers().directory_handler
+        directory_handler = self.directory_handler
         mapping = yield directory_handler.get_association(room_alias)
 
         if not mapping:
@@ -508,7 +515,7 @@ class RoomMemberHandler(BaseHandler):
             requester,
             txn_id
     ):
-        if self.hs.config.block_non_admin_invites:
+        if self.config.block_non_admin_invites:
             is_requester_admin = yield self.auth.is_server_admin(
                 requester.user,
             )
@@ -555,7 +562,7 @@ class RoomMemberHandler(BaseHandler):
             str: the matrix ID of the 3pid, or None if it is not recognized.
         """
         try:
-            data = yield self.hs.get_simple_http_client().get_json(
+            data = yield self.simple_http_client.get_json(
                 "%s%s/_matrix/identity/api/v1/lookup" % (id_server_scheme, id_server,),
                 {
                     "medium": medium,
@@ -578,7 +585,7 @@ class RoomMemberHandler(BaseHandler):
         if server_hostname not in data["signatures"]:
             raise AuthError(401, "No signature from server %s" % (server_hostname,))
         for key_name, signature in data["signatures"][server_hostname].items():
-            key_data = yield self.hs.get_simple_http_client().get_json(
+            key_data = yield self.simple_http_client.get_json(
                 "%s%s/_matrix/identity/api/v1/pubkey/%s" %
                 (id_server_scheme, server_hostname, key_name,),
             )
@@ -603,7 +610,7 @@ class RoomMemberHandler(BaseHandler):
             user,
             txn_id
     ):
-        room_state = yield self.hs.get_state_handler().get_current_state(room_id)
+        room_state = yield self.state_handler.get_current_state(room_id)
 
         inviter_display_name = ""
         inviter_avatar_url = ""
@@ -727,15 +734,15 @@ class RoomMemberHandler(BaseHandler):
             "sender_avatar_url": inviter_avatar_url,
         }
 
-        if self.hs.config.invite_3pid_guest:
-            registration_handler = self.hs.get_handlers().registration_handler
+        if self.config.invite_3pid_guest:
+            registration_handler = self.registration_handler
             guest_access_token = yield registration_handler.guest_access_token_for(
                 medium=medium,
                 address=address,
                 inviter_user_id=inviter_user_id,
             )
 
-            guest_user_info = yield self.hs.get_auth().get_user_by_access_token(
+            guest_user_info = yield self.auth.get_user_by_access_token(
                 guest_access_token
             )
 
@@ -744,7 +751,7 @@ class RoomMemberHandler(BaseHandler):
                 "guest_user_id": guest_user_info["user"].to_string(),
             })
 
-        data = yield self.hs.get_simple_http_client().post_urlencoded_get_json(
+        data = yield self.simple_http_client.post_urlencoded_get_json(
             is_url,
             invite_config
         )
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/v1/admin.py b/synapse/rest/client/v1/admin.py
index 6073cc6fa2..3917eee42d 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/v1/admin.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/v1/admin.py
@@ -180,6 +180,7 @@ class ShutdownRoomRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
         self.handlers = hs.get_handlers()
         self.state = hs.get_state_handler()
         self.event_creation_handler = hs.get_event_creation_handler()
+        self.room_member_handler = hs.get_room_member_handler()
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def on_POST(self, request, room_id):
@@ -238,7 +239,7 @@ class ShutdownRoomRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
             logger.info("Kicking %r from %r...", user_id, room_id)
 
             target_requester = create_requester(user_id)
-            yield self.handlers.room_member_handler.update_membership(
+            yield self.room_member_handler.update_membership(
                 requester=target_requester,
                 target=target_requester.user,
                 room_id=room_id,
@@ -247,9 +248,9 @@ class ShutdownRoomRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
                 ratelimit=False
             )
 
-            yield self.handlers.room_member_handler.forget(target_requester.user, room_id)
+            yield self.room_member_handler.forget(target_requester.user, room_id)
 
-            yield self.handlers.room_member_handler.update_membership(
+            yield self.room_member_handler.update_membership(
                 requester=target_requester,
                 target=target_requester.user,
                 room_id=new_room_id,
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/v1/room.py b/synapse/rest/client/v1/room.py
index 817fd47842..9d745174c7 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/v1/room.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/v1/room.py
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@ class RoomStateEventRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
         super(RoomStateEventRestServlet, self).__init__(hs)
         self.handlers = hs.get_handlers()
         self.event_creation_hander = hs.get_event_creation_handler()
+        self.room_member_handler = hs.get_room_member_handler()
 
     def register(self, http_server):
         # /room/$roomid/state/$eventtype
@@ -156,7 +157,7 @@ class RoomStateEventRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
 
         if event_type == EventTypes.Member:
             membership = content.get("membership", None)
-            event = yield self.handlers.room_member_handler.update_membership(
+            event = yield self.room_member_handler.update_membership(
                 requester,
                 target=UserID.from_string(state_key),
                 room_id=room_id,
@@ -229,7 +230,7 @@ class RoomSendEventRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
 class JoinRoomAliasServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
     def __init__(self, hs):
         super(JoinRoomAliasServlet, self).__init__(hs)
-        self.handlers = hs.get_handlers()
+        self.room_member_handler = hs.get_room_member_handler()
 
     def register(self, http_server):
         # /join/$room_identifier[/$txn_id]
@@ -257,7 +258,7 @@ class JoinRoomAliasServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
             except Exception:
                 remote_room_hosts = None
         elif RoomAlias.is_valid(room_identifier):
-            handler = self.handlers.room_member_handler
+            handler = self.room_member_handler
             room_alias = RoomAlias.from_string(room_identifier)
             room_id, remote_room_hosts = yield handler.lookup_room_alias(room_alias)
             room_id = room_id.to_string()
@@ -266,7 +267,7 @@ class JoinRoomAliasServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
                 room_identifier,
             ))
 
-        yield self.handlers.room_member_handler.update_membership(
+        yield self.room_member_handler.update_membership(
             requester=requester,
             target=requester.user,
             room_id=room_id,
@@ -562,7 +563,7 @@ class RoomEventContextServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
 class RoomForgetRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
     def __init__(self, hs):
         super(RoomForgetRestServlet, self).__init__(hs)
-        self.handlers = hs.get_handlers()
+        self.room_member_handler = hs.get_room_member_handler()
 
     def register(self, http_server):
         PATTERNS = ("/rooms/(?P<room_id>[^/]*)/forget")
@@ -575,7 +576,7 @@ class RoomForgetRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
             allow_guest=False,
         )
 
-        yield self.handlers.room_member_handler.forget(
+        yield self.room_member_handler.forget(
             user=requester.user,
             room_id=room_id,
         )
@@ -593,7 +594,7 @@ class RoomMembershipRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
 
     def __init__(self, hs):
         super(RoomMembershipRestServlet, self).__init__(hs)
-        self.handlers = hs.get_handlers()
+        self.room_member_handler = hs.get_room_member_handler()
 
     def register(self, http_server):
         # /rooms/$roomid/[invite|join|leave]
@@ -622,7 +623,7 @@ class RoomMembershipRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
             content = {}
 
         if membership_action == "invite" and self._has_3pid_invite_keys(content):
-            yield self.handlers.room_member_handler.do_3pid_invite(
+            yield self.room_member_handler.do_3pid_invite(
                 room_id,
                 requester.user,
                 content["medium"],
@@ -644,7 +645,7 @@ class RoomMembershipRestServlet(ClientV1RestServlet):
         if 'reason' in content and membership_action in ['kick', 'ban']:
             event_content = {'reason': content['reason']}
 
-        yield self.handlers.room_member_handler.update_membership(
+        yield self.room_member_handler.update_membership(
             requester=requester,
             target=target,
             room_id=room_id,
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/register.py b/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/register.py
index c6f4680a76..0ba62bddc1 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/register.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/register.py
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ class RegisterRestServlet(RestServlet):
         self.auth_handler = hs.get_auth_handler()
         self.registration_handler = hs.get_handlers().registration_handler
         self.identity_handler = hs.get_handlers().identity_handler
-        self.room_member_handler = hs.get_handlers().room_member_handler
+        self.room_member_handler = hs.get_room_member_handler()
         self.device_handler = hs.get_device_handler()
         self.macaroon_gen = hs.get_macaroon_generator()
 
diff --git a/synapse/server.py b/synapse/server.py
index fbd602d40e..5b6effbe31 100644
--- a/synapse/server.py
+++ b/synapse/server.py
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ from synapse.handlers.device import DeviceHandler
 from synapse.handlers.e2e_keys import E2eKeysHandler
 from synapse.handlers.presence import PresenceHandler
 from synapse.handlers.room_list import RoomListHandler
+from synapse.handlers.room_member import RoomMemberHandler
 from synapse.handlers.set_password import SetPasswordHandler
 from synapse.handlers.sync import SyncHandler
 from synapse.handlers.typing import TypingHandler
@@ -145,6 +146,7 @@ class HomeServer(object):
         'groups_attestation_signing',
         'groups_attestation_renewer',
         'spam_checker',
+        'room_member_handler',
     ]
 
     def __init__(self, hostname, **kwargs):
@@ -382,6 +384,9 @@ class HomeServer(object):
     def build_spam_checker(self):
         return SpamChecker(self)
 
+    def build_room_member_handler(self):
+        return RoomMemberHandler(self)
+
     def remove_pusher(self, app_id, push_key, user_id):
         return self.get_pusherpool().remove_pusher(app_id, push_key, user_id)
 
diff --git a/tests/rest/client/v1/test_typing.py b/tests/rest/client/v1/test_typing.py
index a269e6f56e..e46534cd35 100644
--- a/tests/rest/client/v1/test_typing.py
+++ b/tests/rest/client/v1/test_typing.py
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ class RoomTypingTestCase(RestTestCase):
                 else:
                     if remotedomains is not None:
                         remotedomains.add(member.domain)
-        hs.get_handlers().room_member_handler.fetch_room_distributions_into = (
+        hs.get_room_member_handler().fetch_room_distributions_into = (
             fetch_room_distributions_into
         )