diff --git a/roomserver/internal/query/query.go b/roomserver/internal/query/query.go
index fefa1eadf..df8be4b6c 100644
--- a/roomserver/internal/query/query.go
+++ b/roomserver/internal/query/query.go
@@ -842,7 +842,7 @@ func (r *Queryer) QueryRestrictedJoinAllowed(ctx context.Context, req *api.Query
 	}
 	var joinRules gomatrixserverlib.JoinRuleContent
 	if err = json.Unmarshal(joinRulesEvent.Content(), &joinRules); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("json.Unmarshal: %w (JSON content: %s)", err, joinRulesEvent.Content())
+		return nil
 	}
 	// If the join rule isn't "restricted" then there's nothing more to do.
 	res.Restricted = joinRules.JoinRule == gomatrixserverlib.Restricted