diff --git a/syncapi/streams/stream_pdu.go b/syncapi/streams/stream_pdu.go
index 93e5067dc..ccdac0864 100644
--- a/syncapi/streams/stream_pdu.go
+++ b/syncapi/streams/stream_pdu.go
@@ -167,14 +167,14 @@ func (p *PDUStreamProvider) IncrementalSync(
 		}
 	}
 
-	if len(stateDeltas) == 0 {
-		return to
-	}
-
 	for _, roomID := range joinedRooms {
 		req.Rooms[roomID] = gomatrixserverlib.Join
 	}
 
+	if len(stateDeltas) == 0 {
+		return to
+	}
+
 	newPos = from
 	for _, delta := range stateDeltas {
 		var pos types.StreamPosition