diff --git a/synapse/handlers/auth.py b/synapse/handlers/auth.py
index be2baeaece..ff2c66f442 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/auth.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/auth.py
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ class AuthHandler(BaseHandler):
         if not user_id.startswith('@'):
             user_id = UserID.create(user_id, self.hs.hostname).to_string()
 
-        self._check_password(user_id, password)
+        yield self._check_password(user_id, password)
         defer.returnValue(user_id)
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/account.py b/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/account.py
index 897c54b539..522a312c9e 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/account.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/account.py
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ class PasswordRestServlet(RestServlet):
         new_password = params['new_password']
 
         yield self.auth_handler.set_password(
-            user_id, new_password, None
+            user_id, new_password
         )
 
         defer.returnValue((200, {}))