diff --git a/dendrite-config.yaml b/dendrite-config.yaml
index d04707a61..b19add182 100644
--- a/dendrite-config.yaml
+++ b/dendrite-config.yaml
@@ -52,9 +52,13 @@ media:
 kafka:
     # Where the kafka servers are running.
     addresses: ["localhost:9092"]
+    # Whether to use naffka instead of kafka.
+    # Naffka can only be used when running dendrite as a single monolithic server.
+    # Kafka can be used both with a monolithic server and when running the
+    # components as separate servers.
+    use_naffka: false
     # The names of the kafka topics to use.
     topics:
-        input_room_event: roomserverInput
         output_room_event: roomserverOutput
         output_client_data: clientapiOutput
         user_updates: userUpdates
@@ -71,6 +75,7 @@ database:
 
 # The TCP host:port pairs to bind the internal HTTP APIs to.
 # These shouldn't be exposed to the public internet.
+# These aren't needed when running dendrite as a monolithic server.
 listen:
     room_server: "localhost:7770"
     client_api: "localhost:7771"
diff --git a/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/clientapi/consumers/roomserver.go b/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/clientapi/consumers/roomserver.go
index 1e2320787..314ca42bc 100644
--- a/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/clientapi/consumers/roomserver.go
+++ b/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/clientapi/consumers/roomserver.go
@@ -17,12 +17,13 @@ package consumers
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
 
-	log "github.com/Sirupsen/logrus"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/clientapi/auth/storage/accounts"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/common"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/common/config"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/roomserver/api"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/gomatrixserverlib"
+
+	log "github.com/Sirupsen/logrus"
 	sarama "gopkg.in/Shopify/sarama.v1"
 )
 
@@ -35,12 +36,12 @@ type OutputRoomEvent struct {
 }
 
 // NewOutputRoomEvent creates a new OutputRoomEvent consumer. Call Start() to begin consuming from room servers.
-func NewOutputRoomEvent(cfg *config.Dendrite, store *accounts.Database) (*OutputRoomEvent, error) {
-	kafkaConsumer, err := sarama.NewConsumer(cfg.Kafka.Addresses, nil)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	roomServerURL := cfg.RoomServerURL()
+func NewOutputRoomEvent(
+	cfg *config.Dendrite,
+	kafkaConsumer sarama.Consumer,
+	store *accounts.Database,
+	queryAPI api.RoomserverQueryAPI,
+) *OutputRoomEvent {
 
 	consumer := common.ContinualConsumer{
 		Topic:          string(cfg.Kafka.Topics.OutputRoomEvent),
@@ -50,12 +51,12 @@ func NewOutputRoomEvent(cfg *config.Dendrite, store *accounts.Database) (*Output
 	s := &OutputRoomEvent{
 		roomServerConsumer: &consumer,
 		db:                 store,
-		query:              api.NewRoomserverQueryAPIHTTP(roomServerURL, nil),
+		query:              queryAPI,
 		serverName:         string(cfg.Matrix.ServerName),
 	}
 	consumer.ProcessMessage = s.onMessage
 
-	return s, nil
+	return s
 }
 
 // Start consuming from room servers
diff --git a/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/clientapi/producers/syncapi.go b/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/clientapi/producers/syncapi.go
index 2597089e3..dba104f90 100644
--- a/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/clientapi/producers/syncapi.go
+++ b/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/clientapi/producers/syncapi.go
@@ -28,18 +28,6 @@ type SyncAPIProducer struct {
 	Producer sarama.SyncProducer
 }
 
-// NewSyncAPIProducer creates a new SyncAPIProducer
-func NewSyncAPIProducer(kafkaURIs []string, topic string) (*SyncAPIProducer, error) {
-	producer, err := sarama.NewSyncProducer(kafkaURIs, nil)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	return &SyncAPIProducer{
-		Topic:    topic,
-		Producer: producer,
-	}, nil
-}
-
 // SendData sends account data to the sync API server
 func (p *SyncAPIProducer) SendData(userID string, roomID string, dataType string) error {
 	var m sarama.ProducerMessage
diff --git a/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/clientapi/producers/userupdate.go b/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/clientapi/producers/userupdate.go
index f76be0d75..2f2ed7565 100644
--- a/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/clientapi/producers/userupdate.go
+++ b/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/clientapi/producers/userupdate.go
@@ -34,18 +34,6 @@ type profileUpdate struct {
 	NewValue string `json:"new_value"` // The attribute's value after the update
 }
 
-// NewUserUpdateProducer creates a new UserUpdateProducer
-func NewUserUpdateProducer(kafkaURIs []string, topic string) (*UserUpdateProducer, error) {
-	producer, err := sarama.NewSyncProducer(kafkaURIs, nil)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	return &UserUpdateProducer{
-		Topic:    topic,
-		Producer: producer,
-	}, nil
-}
-
 // SendUpdate sends an update using kafka to notify the roomserver of the
 // profile update. Returns an error if the update failed to send.
 func (p *UserUpdateProducer) SendUpdate(
diff --git a/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/cmd/dendrite-client-api-server/main.go b/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/cmd/dendrite-client-api-server/main.go
index 5d195bee8..53ebdb934 100644
--- a/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/cmd/dendrite-client-api-server/main.go
+++ b/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/cmd/dendrite-client-api-server/main.go
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/matrix-org/gomatrixserverlib"
 
 	log "github.com/Sirupsen/logrus"
+	sarama "gopkg.in/Shopify/sarama.v1"
 )
 
 var (
@@ -50,24 +51,28 @@ func main() {
 		log.Fatalf("Invalid config file: %s", err)
 	}
 
-	log.Info("config: ", cfg)
-
 	queryAPI := api.NewRoomserverQueryAPIHTTP(cfg.RoomServerURL(), nil)
 	aliasAPI := api.NewRoomserverAliasAPIHTTP(cfg.RoomServerURL(), nil)
 	inputAPI := api.NewRoomserverInputAPIHTTP(cfg.RoomServerURL(), nil)
 
 	roomserverProducer := producers.NewRoomserverProducer(inputAPI)
-	userUpdateProducer, err := producers.NewUserUpdateProducer(
-		cfg.Kafka.Addresses, string(cfg.Kafka.Topics.UserUpdates),
-	)
+
+	kafkaProducer, err := sarama.NewSyncProducer(cfg.Kafka.Addresses, nil)
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Panicf("Failed to setup kafka producers(%q): %s", cfg.Kafka.Addresses, err)
+		log.WithFields(log.Fields{
+			log.ErrorKey: err,
+			"addresses":  cfg.Kafka.Addresses,
+		}).Panic("Failed to setup kafka producers")
 	}
-	syncProducer, err := producers.NewSyncAPIProducer(
-		cfg.Kafka.Addresses, string(cfg.Kafka.Topics.OutputClientData),
-	)
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Panicf("Failed to setup kafka producers(%q): %s", cfg.Kafka.Addresses, err)
+
+	userUpdateProducer := &producers.UserUpdateProducer{
+		Producer: kafkaProducer,
+		Topic:    string(cfg.Kafka.Topics.UserUpdates),
+	}
+
+	syncProducer := &producers.SyncAPIProducer{
+		Producer: kafkaProducer,
+		Topic:    string(cfg.Kafka.Topics.OutputClientData),
 	}
 
 	federation := gomatrixserverlib.NewFederationClient(
@@ -90,15 +95,20 @@ func main() {
 	keyRing := gomatrixserverlib.KeyRing{
 		KeyFetchers: []gomatrixserverlib.KeyFetcher{
 			// TODO: Use perspective key fetchers for production.
-			&gomatrixserverlib.DirectKeyFetcher{federation.Client},
+			&gomatrixserverlib.DirectKeyFetcher{Client: federation.Client},
 		},
 		KeyDatabase: keyDB,
 	}
 
-	consumer, err := consumers.NewOutputRoomEvent(cfg, accountDB)
+	kafkaConsumer, err := sarama.NewConsumer(cfg.Kafka.Addresses, nil)
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Panicf("startup: failed to create room server consumer: %s", err)
+		log.WithFields(log.Fields{
+			log.ErrorKey: err,
+			"addresses":  cfg.Kafka.Addresses,
+		}).Panic("Failed to setup kafka consumers")
 	}
+
+	consumer := consumers.NewOutputRoomEvent(cfg, kafkaConsumer, accountDB, queryAPI)
 	if err = consumer.Start(); err != nil {
 		log.Panicf("startup: failed to start room server consumer")
 	}
diff --git a/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/cmd/dendrite-federation-sender-server/main.go b/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/cmd/dendrite-federation-sender-server/main.go
index 9052c3f87..dfc2dc2ff 100644
--- a/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/cmd/dendrite-federation-sender-server/main.go
+++ b/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/cmd/dendrite-federation-sender-server/main.go
@@ -25,9 +25,11 @@ import (
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/federationsender/consumers"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/federationsender/queue"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/federationsender/storage"
+	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/roomserver/api"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/gomatrixserverlib"
 
 	log "github.com/Sirupsen/logrus"
+	sarama "gopkg.in/Shopify/sarama.v1"
 )
 
 var configPath = flag.String("config", "dendrite.yaml", "The path to the config file. For more information, see the config file in this repository.")
@@ -45,7 +47,15 @@ func main() {
 		log.Fatalf("Invalid config file: %s", err)
 	}
 
-	log.Info("config: ", cfg)
+	kafkaConsumer, err := sarama.NewConsumer(cfg.Kafka.Addresses, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.WithFields(log.Fields{
+			log.ErrorKey: err,
+			"addresses":  cfg.Kafka.Addresses,
+		}).Panic("Failed to setup kafka consumers")
+	}
+
+	queryAPI := api.NewRoomserverQueryAPIHTTP(cfg.RoomServerURL(), nil)
 
 	db, err := storage.NewDatabase(string(cfg.Database.FederationSender))
 	if err != nil {
@@ -58,10 +68,7 @@ func main() {
 
 	queues := queue.NewOutgoingQueues(cfg.Matrix.ServerName, federation)
 
-	consumer, err := consumers.NewOutputRoomEvent(cfg, queues, db)
-	if err != nil {
-		log.WithError(err).Panicf("startup: failed to create room server consumer")
-	}
+	consumer := consumers.NewOutputRoomEvent(cfg, kafkaConsumer, queues, db, queryAPI)
 	if err = consumer.Start(); err != nil {
 		log.WithError(err).Panicf("startup: failed to start room server consumer")
 	}
diff --git a/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/cmd/dendrite-monolith-server/main.go b/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/cmd/dendrite-monolith-server/main.go
index f0046d7b1..ee86469d3 100644
--- a/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/cmd/dendrite-monolith-server/main.go
+++ b/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/cmd/dendrite-monolith-server/main.go
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/common/config"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/common/keydb"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/gomatrixserverlib"
+	"github.com/matrix-org/naffka"
 
 	mediaapi_routing "github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/mediaapi/routing"
 	mediaapi_storage "github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/mediaapi/storage"
@@ -72,7 +73,7 @@ func main() {
 	if *configPath == "" {
 		log.Fatal("--config must be supplied")
 	}
-	cfg, err := config.Load(*configPath)
+	cfg, err := config.LoadMonolithic(*configPath)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Fatalf("Invalid config file: %s", err)
 	}
@@ -80,6 +81,7 @@ func main() {
 	m := newMonolith(cfg)
 	m.setupDatabases()
 	m.setupFederation()
+	m.setupKafka()
 	m.setupRoomServer()
 	m.setupProducers()
 	m.setupNotifiers()
@@ -125,6 +127,9 @@ type monolith struct {
 	queryAPI *roomserver_query.RoomserverQueryAPI
 	aliasAPI *roomserver_alias.RoomserverAliasAPI
 
+	kafkaConsumer sarama.Consumer
+	kafkaProducer sarama.SyncProducer
+
 	roomServerProducer *producers.RoomserverProducer
 	userUpdateProducer *producers.UserUpdateProducer
 	syncProducer       *producers.SyncAPIProducer
@@ -182,15 +187,39 @@ func (m *monolith) setupFederation() {
 	}
 }
 
-func (m *monolith) setupRoomServer() {
-	kafkaProducer, err := sarama.NewSyncProducer(m.cfg.Kafka.Addresses, nil)
-	if err != nil {
-		panic(err)
+func (m *monolith) setupKafka() {
+	var err error
+	if m.cfg.Kafka.UseNaffka {
+		naff, err := naffka.New(&naffka.MemoryDatabase{})
+		if err != nil {
+			log.WithFields(log.Fields{
+				log.ErrorKey: err,
+			}).Panic("Failed to setup naffka")
+		}
+		m.kafkaConsumer = naff
+		m.kafkaProducer = naff
+	} else {
+		m.kafkaConsumer, err = sarama.NewConsumer(m.cfg.Kafka.Addresses, nil)
+		if err != nil {
+			log.WithFields(log.Fields{
+				log.ErrorKey: err,
+				"addresses":  m.cfg.Kafka.Addresses,
+			}).Panic("Failed to setup kafka consumers")
+		}
+		m.kafkaProducer, err = sarama.NewSyncProducer(m.cfg.Kafka.Addresses, nil)
+		if err != nil {
+			log.WithFields(log.Fields{
+				log.ErrorKey: err,
+				"addresses":  m.cfg.Kafka.Addresses,
+			}).Panic("Failed to setup kafka producers")
+		}
 	}
+}
 
+func (m *monolith) setupRoomServer() {
 	m.inputAPI = &roomserver_input.RoomserverInputAPI{
 		DB:                   m.roomServerDB,
-		Producer:             kafkaProducer,
+		Producer:             m.kafkaProducer,
 		OutputRoomEventTopic: string(m.cfg.Kafka.Topics.OutputRoomEvent),
 	}
 
@@ -207,19 +236,14 @@ func (m *monolith) setupRoomServer() {
 }
 
 func (m *monolith) setupProducers() {
-	var err error
 	m.roomServerProducer = producers.NewRoomserverProducer(m.inputAPI)
-	m.userUpdateProducer, err = producers.NewUserUpdateProducer(
-		m.cfg.Kafka.Addresses, string(m.cfg.Kafka.Topics.UserUpdates),
-	)
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Panicf("Failed to setup kafka producers(%q): %s", m.cfg.Kafka.Addresses, err)
+	m.userUpdateProducer = &producers.UserUpdateProducer{
+		Producer: m.kafkaProducer,
+		Topic:    string(m.cfg.Kafka.Topics.UserUpdates),
 	}
-	m.syncProducer, err = producers.NewSyncAPIProducer(
-		m.cfg.Kafka.Addresses, string(m.cfg.Kafka.Topics.OutputClientData),
-	)
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Panicf("Failed to setup kafka producers(%q): %s", m.cfg.Kafka.Addresses, err)
+	m.syncProducer = &producers.SyncAPIProducer{
+		Producer: m.kafkaProducer,
+		Topic:    string(m.cfg.Kafka.Topics.OutputClientData),
 	}
 }
 
@@ -236,42 +260,34 @@ func (m *monolith) setupNotifiers() {
 }
 
 func (m *monolith) setupConsumers() {
-	clientAPIConsumer, err := clientapi_consumers.NewOutputRoomEvent(m.cfg, m.accountDB)
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Panicf("startup: failed to create room server consumer: %s", err)
-	}
+	var err error
+
+	clientAPIConsumer := clientapi_consumers.NewOutputRoomEvent(
+		m.cfg, m.kafkaConsumer, m.accountDB, m.queryAPI,
+	)
 	if err = clientAPIConsumer.Start(); err != nil {
 		log.Panicf("startup: failed to start room server consumer")
 	}
 
-	syncAPIRoomConsumer, err := syncapi_consumers.NewOutputRoomEvent(
-		m.cfg, m.syncAPINotifier, m.syncAPIDB,
+	syncAPIRoomConsumer := syncapi_consumers.NewOutputRoomEvent(
+		m.cfg, m.kafkaConsumer, m.syncAPINotifier, m.syncAPIDB, m.queryAPI,
 	)
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Panicf("startup: failed to create room server consumer: %s", err)
-	}
 	if err = syncAPIRoomConsumer.Start(); err != nil {
 		log.Panicf("startup: failed to start room server consumer: %s", err)
 	}
 
-	syncAPIClientConsumer, err := syncapi_consumers.NewOutputClientData(
-		m.cfg, m.syncAPINotifier, m.syncAPIDB,
+	syncAPIClientConsumer := syncapi_consumers.NewOutputClientData(
+		m.cfg, m.kafkaConsumer, m.syncAPINotifier, m.syncAPIDB,
 	)
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Panicf("startup: failed to create client API server consumer: %s", err)
-	}
 	if err = syncAPIClientConsumer.Start(); err != nil {
 		log.Panicf("startup: failed to start client API server consumer: %s", err)
 	}
 
 	federationSenderQueues := queue.NewOutgoingQueues(m.cfg.Matrix.ServerName, m.federation)
 
-	federationSenderRoomConsumer, err := federationsender_consumers.NewOutputRoomEvent(
-		m.cfg, federationSenderQueues, m.federationSenderDB,
+	federationSenderRoomConsumer := federationsender_consumers.NewOutputRoomEvent(
+		m.cfg, m.kafkaConsumer, federationSenderQueues, m.federationSenderDB, m.queryAPI,
 	)
-	if err != nil {
-		log.WithError(err).Panicf("startup: failed to create room server consumer")
-	}
 	if err = federationSenderRoomConsumer.Start(); err != nil {
 		log.WithError(err).Panicf("startup: failed to start room server consumer")
 	}
diff --git a/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/cmd/dendrite-sync-api-server/main.go b/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/cmd/dendrite-sync-api-server/main.go
index 7db4d4ca4..7e9e4c128 100644
--- a/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/cmd/dendrite-sync-api-server/main.go
+++ b/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/cmd/dendrite-sync-api-server/main.go
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/clientapi/auth/storage/devices"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/common"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/common/config"
+	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/roomserver/api"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/consumers"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/routing"
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/storage"
@@ -31,6 +32,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/types"
 
 	log "github.com/Sirupsen/logrus"
+	sarama "gopkg.in/Shopify/sarama.v1"
 )
 
 var configPath = flag.String("config", "dendrite.yaml", "The path to the config file. For more information, see the config file in this repository.")
@@ -48,7 +50,7 @@ func main() {
 		log.Fatalf("Invalid config file: %s", err)
 	}
 
-	log.Info("config: ", cfg)
+	queryAPI := api.NewRoomserverQueryAPIHTTP(cfg.RoomServerURL(), nil)
 
 	db, err := storage.NewSyncServerDatabase(string(cfg.Database.SyncAPI))
 	if err != nil {
@@ -74,17 +76,20 @@ func main() {
 	if err = n.Load(db); err != nil {
 		log.Panicf("startup: failed to set up notifier: %s", err)
 	}
-	roomConsumer, err := consumers.NewOutputRoomEvent(cfg, n, db)
+
+	kafkaConsumer, err := sarama.NewConsumer(cfg.Kafka.Addresses, nil)
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Panicf("startup: failed to create room server consumer: %s", err)
+		log.WithFields(log.Fields{
+			log.ErrorKey: err,
+			"addresses":  cfg.Kafka.Addresses,
+		}).Panic("Failed to setup kafka consumers")
 	}
+
+	roomConsumer := consumers.NewOutputRoomEvent(cfg, kafkaConsumer, n, db, queryAPI)
 	if err = roomConsumer.Start(); err != nil {
 		log.Panicf("startup: failed to start room server consumer: %s", err)
 	}
-	clientConsumer, err := consumers.NewOutputClientData(cfg, n, db)
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Panicf("startup: failed to create client API server consumer: %s", err)
-	}
+	clientConsumer := consumers.NewOutputClientData(cfg, kafkaConsumer, n, db)
 	if err = clientConsumer.Start(); err != nil {
 		log.Panicf("startup: failed to start client API server consumer: %s", err)
 	}
diff --git a/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/common/config/config.go b/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/common/config/config.go
index 324561f68..ae0fe62cd 100644
--- a/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/common/config/config.go
+++ b/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/common/config/config.go
@@ -94,6 +94,11 @@ type Dendrite struct {
 	Kafka struct {
 		// A list of kafka addresses to connect to.
 		Addresses []string `yaml:"addresses"`
+		// Whether to use naffka instead of kafka.
+		// Naffka can only be used when running dendrite as a single monolithic server.
+		// Kafka can be used both with a monolithic server and when running the
+		// components as separate servers.
+		UseNaffka bool `yaml:"use_naffka,omitempty"`
 		// The names of the topics to use when reading and writing from kafka.
 		Topics struct {
 			// Topic for roomserver/api.OutputRoomEvent events.
@@ -169,7 +174,10 @@ type ThumbnailSize struct {
 	ResizeMethod string `yaml:"method,omitempty"`
 }
 
-// Load a yaml config file
+// Load a yaml config file for a server run as multiple processes.
+// Checks the config to ensure that it is valid.
+// The checks are different if the server is run as a monolithic process instead
+// of being split into multiple components
 func Load(configPath string) (*Dendrite, error) {
 	configData, err := ioutil.ReadFile(configPath)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -181,7 +189,27 @@ func Load(configPath string) (*Dendrite, error) {
 	}
 	// Pass the current working directory and ioutil.ReadFile so that they can
 	// be mocked in the tests
-	return loadConfig(basePath, configData, ioutil.ReadFile)
+	monolithic := false
+	return loadConfig(basePath, configData, ioutil.ReadFile, monolithic)
+}
+
+// LoadMonolithic loads a yaml config file for a server run as a single monolith.
+// Checks the config to ensure that it is valid.
+// The checks are different if the server is run as a monolithic process instead
+// of being split into multiple components
+func LoadMonolithic(configPath string) (*Dendrite, error) {
+	configData, err := ioutil.ReadFile(configPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	basePath, err := filepath.Abs(".")
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	// Pass the current working directory and ioutil.ReadFile so that they can
+	// be mocked in the tests
+	monolithic := true
+	return loadConfig(basePath, configData, ioutil.ReadFile, monolithic)
 }
 
 // An Error indicates a problem parsing the config.
@@ -194,6 +222,7 @@ func loadConfig(
 	basePath string,
 	configData []byte,
 	readFile func(string) ([]byte, error),
+	monolithic bool,
 ) (*Dendrite, error) {
 	var config Dendrite
 	var err error
@@ -203,7 +232,7 @@ func loadConfig(
 
 	config.setDefaults()
 
-	if err = config.check(); err != nil {
+	if err = config.check(monolithic); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
@@ -259,7 +288,7 @@ func (e Error) Error() string {
 	)
 }
 
-func (config *Dendrite) check() error {
+func (config *Dendrite) check(monolithic bool) error {
 	var problems []string
 
 	if config.Version != Version {
@@ -297,21 +326,32 @@ func (config *Dendrite) check() error {
 		checkPositive(fmt.Sprintf("media.thumbnail_sizes[%d].width", i), int64(size.Width))
 		checkPositive(fmt.Sprintf("media.thumbnail_sizes[%d].height", i), int64(size.Height))
 	}
-
-	checkNotZero("kafka.addresses", int64(len(config.Kafka.Addresses)))
+	if config.Kafka.UseNaffka {
+		if !monolithic {
+			problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf("naffka can only be used in a monolithic server"))
+		}
+	} else {
+		// If we aren't using naffka then we need to have at least one kafka
+		// server to talk to.
+		checkNotZero("kafka.addresses", int64(len(config.Kafka.Addresses)))
+	}
 	checkNotEmpty("kafka.topics.output_room_event", string(config.Kafka.Topics.OutputRoomEvent))
 	checkNotEmpty("kafka.topics.output_client_data", string(config.Kafka.Topics.OutputClientData))
+	checkNotEmpty("kafka.topics.user_updates", string(config.Kafka.Topics.UserUpdates))
 	checkNotEmpty("database.account", string(config.Database.Account))
 	checkNotEmpty("database.device", string(config.Database.Device))
 	checkNotEmpty("database.server_key", string(config.Database.ServerKey))
 	checkNotEmpty("database.media_api", string(config.Database.MediaAPI))
 	checkNotEmpty("database.sync_api", string(config.Database.SyncAPI))
 	checkNotEmpty("database.room_server", string(config.Database.RoomServer))
-	checkNotEmpty("listen.media_api", string(config.Listen.MediaAPI))
-	checkNotEmpty("listen.client_api", string(config.Listen.ClientAPI))
-	checkNotEmpty("listen.federation_api", string(config.Listen.FederationAPI))
-	checkNotEmpty("listen.sync_api", string(config.Listen.SyncAPI))
-	checkNotEmpty("listen.room_server", string(config.Listen.RoomServer))
+
+	if !monolithic {
+		checkNotEmpty("listen.media_api", string(config.Listen.MediaAPI))
+		checkNotEmpty("listen.client_api", string(config.Listen.ClientAPI))
+		checkNotEmpty("listen.federation_api", string(config.Listen.FederationAPI))
+		checkNotEmpty("listen.sync_api", string(config.Listen.SyncAPI))
+		checkNotEmpty("listen.room_server", string(config.Listen.RoomServer))
+	}
 
 	if problems != nil {
 		return Error{problems}
diff --git a/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/common/config/config_test.go b/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/common/config/config_test.go
index 4275e3d41..24b0dfc1f 100644
--- a/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/common/config/config_test.go
+++ b/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/common/config/config_test.go
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ func TestLoadConfigRelative(t *testing.T) {
 			"/my/config/dir/matrix_key.pem": testKey,
 			"/my/config/dir/tls_cert.pem":   testCert,
 		}.readFile,
+		false,
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Error("failed to load config:", err)
@@ -42,9 +43,9 @@ media:
 kafka:
   addresses: ["localhost:9092"]
   topics:
-    input_room_event: input.room
     output_room_event: output.room
     output_client_data: output.client
+    user_updates: output.user
 database:
   media_api: "postgresql:///media_api"
   account: "postgresql:///account"
diff --git a/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/common/test/config.go b/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/common/test/config.go
index a28a08d54..948c60f10 100644
--- a/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/common/test/config.go
+++ b/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/common/test/config.go
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ func MakeConfig(configDir, kafkaURI, database, host string, startPort int) (*con
 	// Make this configurable somehow?
 	cfg.Kafka.Topics.OutputRoomEvent = "test.room.output"
 	cfg.Kafka.Topics.OutputClientData = "test.clientapi.output"
+	cfg.Kafka.Topics.UserUpdates = "test.user.output"
 
 	// TODO: Use different databases for the different schemas.
 	// Using the same database for every schema currently works because
diff --git a/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/federationsender/consumers/roomserver.go b/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/federationsender/consumers/roomserver.go
index 7f133d303..4ebc36c77 100644
--- a/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/federationsender/consumers/roomserver.go
+++ b/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/federationsender/consumers/roomserver.go
@@ -38,13 +38,13 @@ type OutputRoomEvent struct {
 }
 
 // NewOutputRoomEvent creates a new OutputRoomEvent consumer. Call Start() to begin consuming from room servers.
-func NewOutputRoomEvent(cfg *config.Dendrite, queues *queue.OutgoingQueues, store *storage.Database) (*OutputRoomEvent, error) {
-	kafkaConsumer, err := sarama.NewConsumer(cfg.Kafka.Addresses, nil)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	roomServerURL := cfg.RoomServerURL()
-
+func NewOutputRoomEvent(
+	cfg *config.Dendrite,
+	kafkaConsumer sarama.Consumer,
+	queues *queue.OutgoingQueues,
+	store *storage.Database,
+	queryAPI api.RoomserverQueryAPI,
+) *OutputRoomEvent {
 	consumer := common.ContinualConsumer{
 		Topic:          string(cfg.Kafka.Topics.OutputRoomEvent),
 		Consumer:       kafkaConsumer,
@@ -54,11 +54,11 @@ func NewOutputRoomEvent(cfg *config.Dendrite, queues *queue.OutgoingQueues, stor
 		roomServerConsumer: &consumer,
 		db:                 store,
 		queues:             queues,
-		query:              api.NewRoomserverQueryAPIHTTP(roomServerURL, nil),
+		query:              queryAPI,
 	}
 	consumer.ProcessMessage = s.onMessage
 
-	return s, nil
+	return s
 }
 
 // Start consuming from room servers
diff --git a/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/consumers/clientapi.go b/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/consumers/clientapi.go
index a2a240ff9..7cc38b815 100644
--- a/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/consumers/clientapi.go
+++ b/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/consumers/clientapi.go
@@ -33,11 +33,12 @@ type OutputClientData struct {
 }
 
 // NewOutputClientData creates a new OutputClientData consumer. Call Start() to begin consuming from room servers.
-func NewOutputClientData(cfg *config.Dendrite, n *sync.Notifier, store *storage.SyncServerDatabase) (*OutputClientData, error) {
-	kafkaConsumer, err := sarama.NewConsumer(cfg.Kafka.Addresses, nil)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
+func NewOutputClientData(
+	cfg *config.Dendrite,
+	kafkaConsumer sarama.Consumer,
+	n *sync.Notifier,
+	store *storage.SyncServerDatabase,
+) *OutputClientData {
 
 	consumer := common.ContinualConsumer{
 		Topic:          string(cfg.Kafka.Topics.OutputClientData),
@@ -51,7 +52,7 @@ func NewOutputClientData(cfg *config.Dendrite, n *sync.Notifier, store *storage.
 	}
 	consumer.ProcessMessage = s.onMessage
 
-	return s, nil
+	return s
 }
 
 // Start consuming from room servers
diff --git a/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/consumers/roomserver.go b/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/consumers/roomserver.go
index c846705fc..373577894 100644
--- a/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/consumers/roomserver.go
+++ b/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/syncapi/consumers/roomserver.go
@@ -44,12 +44,13 @@ type prevEventRef struct {
 }
 
 // NewOutputRoomEvent creates a new OutputRoomEvent consumer. Call Start() to begin consuming from room servers.
-func NewOutputRoomEvent(cfg *config.Dendrite, n *sync.Notifier, store *storage.SyncServerDatabase) (*OutputRoomEvent, error) {
-	kafkaConsumer, err := sarama.NewConsumer(cfg.Kafka.Addresses, nil)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	roomServerURL := cfg.RoomServerURL()
+func NewOutputRoomEvent(
+	cfg *config.Dendrite,
+	kafkaConsumer sarama.Consumer,
+	n *sync.Notifier,
+	store *storage.SyncServerDatabase,
+	queryAPI api.RoomserverQueryAPI,
+) *OutputRoomEvent {
 
 	consumer := common.ContinualConsumer{
 		Topic:          string(cfg.Kafka.Topics.OutputRoomEvent),
@@ -60,11 +61,11 @@ func NewOutputRoomEvent(cfg *config.Dendrite, n *sync.Notifier, store *storage.S
 		roomServerConsumer: &consumer,
 		db:                 store,
 		notifier:           n,
-		query:              api.NewRoomserverQueryAPIHTTP(roomServerURL, nil),
+		query:              queryAPI,
 	}
 	consumer.ProcessMessage = s.onMessage
 
-	return s, nil
+	return s
 }
 
 // Start consuming from room servers