diff --git a/changelog.d/3758.bugfix b/changelog.d/3758.bugfix
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..862739bfe8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/3758.bugfix
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Fix 'admin_uri' config variable and error parameter to be 'admin_contact' to match the spec.
diff --git a/synapse/api/auth.py b/synapse/api/auth.py
index 8d2aa5870a..a7e3f7a7ac 100644
--- a/synapse/api/auth.py
+++ b/synapse/api/auth.py
@@ -793,7 +793,7 @@ class Auth(object):
             raise ResourceLimitError(
                 403, self.hs.config.hs_disabled_message,
                 errcode=Codes.RESOURCE_LIMIT_EXCEEDED,
-                admin_uri=self.hs.config.admin_uri,
+                admin_contact=self.hs.config.admin_contact,
                 limit_type=self.hs.config.hs_disabled_limit_type
             )
         if self.hs.config.limit_usage_by_mau is True:
@@ -812,7 +812,7 @@ class Auth(object):
                 raise ResourceLimitError(
                     403, "Monthly Active User Limit Exceeded",
 
-                    admin_uri=self.hs.config.admin_uri,
+                    admin_contact=self.hs.config.admin_contact,
                     errcode=Codes.RESOURCE_LIMIT_EXCEEDED,
                     limit_type="monthly_active_user"
                 )
diff --git a/synapse/api/errors.py b/synapse/api/errors.py
index c4ddba9889..2e7f98404d 100644
--- a/synapse/api/errors.py
+++ b/synapse/api/errors.py
@@ -239,10 +239,10 @@ class ResourceLimitError(SynapseError):
     def __init__(
         self, code, msg,
         errcode=Codes.RESOURCE_LIMIT_EXCEEDED,
-        admin_uri=None,
+        admin_contact=None,
         limit_type=None,
     ):
-        self.admin_uri = admin_uri
+        self.admin_contact = admin_contact
         self.limit_type = limit_type
         super(ResourceLimitError, self).__init__(code, msg, errcode=errcode)
 
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ class ResourceLimitError(SynapseError):
         return cs_error(
             self.msg,
             self.errcode,
-            admin_uri=self.admin_uri,
+            admin_contact=self.admin_contact,
             limit_type=self.limit_type
         )
 
diff --git a/synapse/config/server.py b/synapse/config/server.py
index 8eecd28e7d..2faf472189 100644
--- a/synapse/config/server.py
+++ b/synapse/config/server.py
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ class ServerConfig(Config):
 
         # Admin uri to direct users at should their instance become blocked
         # due to resource constraints
-        self.admin_uri = config.get("admin_uri", None)
+        self.admin_contact = config.get("admin_contact", None)
 
         # FIXME: federation_domain_whitelist needs sytests
         self.federation_domain_whitelist = None
@@ -357,7 +357,7 @@ class ServerConfig(Config):
           # Homeserver blocking
           #
           # How to reach the server admin, used in ResourceLimitError
-          # admin_uri: 'mailto:admin@server.com'
+          # admin_contact: 'mailto:admin@server.com'
           #
           # Global block config
           #
diff --git a/synapse/server_notices/resource_limits_server_notices.py b/synapse/server_notices/resource_limits_server_notices.py
index 5d86114e09..af15cba0ee 100644
--- a/synapse/server_notices/resource_limits_server_notices.py
+++ b/synapse/server_notices/resource_limits_server_notices.py
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ class ResourceLimitsServerNotices(object):
                     'body': event_content,
                     'msgtype': ServerNoticeMsgType,
                     'server_notice_type': ServerNoticeLimitReached,
-                    'admin_uri': self._config.admin_uri,
+                    'admin_contact': self._config.admin_contact,
                     'limit_type': event_limit_type
                 }
                 event = yield self._server_notices_manager.send_notice(
diff --git a/tests/api/test_auth.py b/tests/api/test_auth.py
index ed960090c4..54e396d19d 100644
--- a/tests/api/test_auth.py
+++ b/tests/api/test_auth.py
@@ -457,7 +457,7 @@ class AuthTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
 
         with self.assertRaises(ResourceLimitError) as e:
             yield self.auth.check_auth_blocking()
-        self.assertEquals(e.exception.admin_uri, self.hs.config.admin_uri)
+        self.assertEquals(e.exception.admin_contact, self.hs.config.admin_contact)
         self.assertEquals(e.exception.errcode, Codes.RESOURCE_LIMIT_EXCEEDED)
         self.assertEquals(e.exception.code, 403)
 
@@ -473,7 +473,7 @@ class AuthTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         self.hs.config.hs_disabled_message = "Reason for being disabled"
         with self.assertRaises(ResourceLimitError) as e:
             yield self.auth.check_auth_blocking()
-        self.assertEquals(e.exception.admin_uri, self.hs.config.admin_uri)
+        self.assertEquals(e.exception.admin_contact, self.hs.config.admin_contact)
         self.assertEquals(e.exception.errcode, Codes.RESOURCE_LIMIT_EXCEEDED)
         self.assertEquals(e.exception.code, 403)
 
diff --git a/tests/server_notices/test_resource_limits_server_notices.py b/tests/server_notices/test_resource_limits_server_notices.py
index 0ddf4fd50d..5cc7fff39b 100644
--- a/tests/server_notices/test_resource_limits_server_notices.py
+++ b/tests/server_notices/test_resource_limits_server_notices.py
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ class TestResourceLimitsServerNotices(unittest.TestCase):
         )
         self._rlsn._store.add_tag_to_room = Mock()
         self._rlsn._store.get_tags_for_room = Mock(return_value={})
-        self.hs.config.admin_uri = "mailto:user@test.com"
+        self.hs.config.admin_contact = "mailto:user@test.com"
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def test_maybe_send_server_notice_to_user_flag_off(self):
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ class TestResourceLimitsServerNoticesWithRealRooms(unittest.TestCase):
 
         self.user_id = "@user_id:test"
 
-        self.hs.config.admin_uri = "mailto:user@test.com"
+        self.hs.config.admin_contact = "mailto:user@test.com"
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def test_server_notice_only_sent_once(self):
diff --git a/tests/utils.py b/tests/utils.py
index 9f7ff94575..e8ef10445c 100644
--- a/tests/utils.py
+++ b/tests/utils.py
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ def setup_test_homeserver(
         config.hs_disabled_limit_type = ""
         config.max_mau_value = 50
         config.mau_limits_reserved_threepids = []
-        config.admin_uri = None
+        config.admin_contact = None
 
         # we need a sane default_room_version, otherwise attempts to create rooms will
         # fail.