diff --git a/federationsender/consumers/roomserver.go b/federationsender/consumers/roomserver.go
index 13c415bc7..b53cb251b 100644
--- a/federationsender/consumers/roomserver.go
+++ b/federationsender/consumers/roomserver.go
@@ -94,13 +94,20 @@ func (s *OutputRoomEventConsumer) onMessage(msg *sarama.ConsumerMessage) error {
 		}
 
 		if err := s.processMessage(*output.NewRoomEvent); err != nil {
-			// panic rather than continue with an inconsistent database
-			log.WithFields(log.Fields{
-				"event":      string(ev.JSON()),
-				"add":        output.NewRoomEvent.AddsStateEventIDs,
-				"del":        output.NewRoomEvent.RemovesStateEventIDs,
-				log.ErrorKey: err,
-			}).Panicf("roomserver output log: write room event failure")
+			switch err.(type) {
+			case *queue.ErrorFederationDisabled:
+				log.WithField("error", output.Type).Info(
+					err.Error(),
+				)
+			default:
+				// panic rather than continue with an inconsistent database
+				log.WithFields(log.Fields{
+					"event":      string(ev.JSON()),
+					"add":        output.NewRoomEvent.AddsStateEventIDs,
+					"del":        output.NewRoomEvent.RemovesStateEventIDs,
+					log.ErrorKey: err,
+				}).Panicf("roomserver output log: write room event failure")
+			}
 			return nil
 		}
 	default:
diff --git a/federationsender/queue/queue.go b/federationsender/queue/queue.go
index 95d37b2b8..d45af8686 100644
--- a/federationsender/queue/queue.go
+++ b/federationsender/queue/queue.go
@@ -122,13 +122,23 @@ func (oqs *OutgoingQueues) getQueue(destination gomatrixserverlib.ServerName) *d
 	return oq
 }
 
+type ErrorFederationDisabled struct {
+	Message string
+}
+
+func (e *ErrorFederationDisabled) Error() string {
+	return e.Message
+}
+
 // SendEvent sends an event to the destinations
 func (oqs *OutgoingQueues) SendEvent(
 	ev *gomatrixserverlib.HeaderedEvent, origin gomatrixserverlib.ServerName,
 	destinations []gomatrixserverlib.ServerName,
 ) error {
 	if oqs.disabled {
-		return fmt.Errorf("federation is disabled")
+		return &ErrorFederationDisabled{
+			Message: "Federation disabled",
+		}
 	}
 	if origin != oqs.origin {
 		// TODO: Support virtual hosting; gh issue #577.
@@ -190,7 +200,9 @@ func (oqs *OutgoingQueues) SendEDU(
 	destinations []gomatrixserverlib.ServerName,
 ) error {
 	if oqs.disabled {
-		return fmt.Errorf("federation is disabled")
+		return &ErrorFederationDisabled{
+			Message: "Federation disabled",
+		}
 	}
 	if origin != oqs.origin {
 		// TODO: Support virtual hosting; gh issue #577.
diff --git a/sytest-blacklist b/sytest-blacklist
index f42d5f822..601a3f705 100644
--- a/sytest-blacklist
+++ b/sytest-blacklist
@@ -63,4 +63,7 @@ If user leaves room, remote user changes device and rejoins we see update in /sy
 A prev_batch token from incremental sync can be used in the v1 messages API
 
 # Blacklisted due to flakiness
-Forgotten room messages cannot be paginated
\ No newline at end of file
+Forgotten room messages cannot be paginated
+
+# Blacklisted due to flakiness
+Can re-join room if re-invited
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/sytest-whitelist b/sytest-whitelist
index 17027041d..da4b201ce 100644
--- a/sytest-whitelist
+++ b/sytest-whitelist
@@ -501,6 +501,5 @@ Can get rooms/{roomId}/state for a departed room (SPEC-216)
 Users cannot set notifications powerlevel higher than their own
 Forgetting room does not show up in v2 /sync
 Can forget room you've been kicked from
-Can re-join room if re-invited
 /whois
 /joined_members return joined members