diff --git a/changelog.d/+85568e80.feature.md b/changelog.d/+85568e80.feature.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f9e5486eb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/+85568e80.feature.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Added support for Matrix 1.16's `state_after` feature, allowing clients which understand it to sync room state changes more reliably. Contributed by @ginger.
diff --git a/changelog.d/917.bugfix.md b/changelog.d/917.bugfix.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..82dbaec18
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/917.bugfix.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Adjusted legacy sync logic to no longer use the `roomsynctoken_shortstatehash` database column. Once this change has been confirmed to be stable and reliable, a future update will remove it entirely, significantly decreasing database sizes. Contributed by @ginger.
diff --git a/src/api/client/sync/mod.rs b/src/api/client/sync/mod.rs
index 2b6d3d291..ebd74e8b3 100644
--- a/src/api/client/sync/mod.rs
+++ b/src/api/client/sync/mod.rs
@@ -48,6 +48,13 @@ async fn load_timeline(
 	ending_count: Option<PduCount>,
 	limit: usize,
 ) -> Result<TimelinePdus> {
+	if let (Some(starting_count), Some(ending_count)) = (starting_count, ending_count) {
+		debug_assert!(
+			starting_count <= ending_count,
+			"starting count {starting_count} > ending count {ending_count}"
+		);
+	}
+
 	let mut pdu_stream = match starting_count {
 		| Some(starting_count) => {
 			let last_timeline_count = services
diff --git a/src/api/client/sync/v3/joined.rs b/src/api/client/sync/v3/joined.rs
index 6b4af1dcc..5392776af 100644
--- a/src/api/client/sync/v3/joined.rs
+++ b/src/api/client/sync/v3/joined.rs
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ use ruma::{
 	uint,
 };
 use service::{account_data::AnyRawAccountDataEvent, rooms::short::ShortStateHash};
+use tokio::pin;
 
 use super::{load_timeline, share_encrypted_room};
 use crate::client::{
@@ -96,12 +97,19 @@ pub(super) async fn load_joined_room(
 		);
 	}
 
+	let state_events =
+		StateEvents::with_events(state_events.into_iter().map(Event::into_format).collect());
+
 	let joined_room = assign!(JoinedRoom::new(), {
 		account_data,
 		summary: summary.unwrap_or_default(),
 		unread_notifications: notification_counts.unwrap_or_default(),
 		timeline,
-		state: RoomState::Before(StateEvents::with_events(state_events.into_iter().map(Event::into_format).collect())),
+		state: if sync_context.use_state_after {
+			RoomState::After(state_events)
+		} else {
+			RoomState::Before(state_events)
+		},
 		ephemeral,
 		unread_thread_notifications: BTreeMap::new(),
 	});
@@ -344,7 +352,7 @@ struct ShortStateHashes {
 #[tracing::instrument(level = "debug", skip_all)]
 async fn fetch_shortstatehashes(
 	services: &Services,
-	SyncContext { last_sync_end_count, current_count, .. }: SyncContext<'_>,
+	SyncContext { last_sync_end_count, .. }: SyncContext<'_>,
 	room_id: &RoomId,
 ) -> Result<ShortStateHashes> {
 	// the room state currently.
@@ -354,46 +362,41 @@ async fn fetch_shortstatehashes(
 		.rooms
 		.state
 		.get_room_shortstatehash(room_id)
-		.map_err(|_| err!(Database(error!("Room {room_id} has no state"))));
+		.map_err(|_| err!(Database(error!("Room {room_id} has no state"))))
+		.await?;
 
-	// the room state as of the end of the last sync.
-	// this will be None if we are doing an initial sync or if we just joined this
-	// room.
+	// The room state as of the end of the last sync.
+	// This will be None if we are doing an initial sync.
 	let last_sync_end_shortstatehash =
-		OptionFuture::from(last_sync_end_count.map(|last_sync_end_count| {
-			// look up the shortstatehash saved by the last sync's call to
-			// `associate_token_shortstatehash`
-			services
-				.rooms
-				.user
-				.get_token_shortstatehash(room_id, last_sync_end_count)
-				.inspect_err(move |_| {
-					debug_warn!(
-						token = last_sync_end_count,
-						"Room has no shortstatehash for this token"
-					);
-				})
-				.ok()
+		OptionFuture::from(last_sync_end_count.map(async |last_sync_end_count| {
+			pin! {
+				let pdus = services
+					.rooms
+					.timeline
+					.pdus(room_id, Some(PduCount::Normal(last_sync_end_count)))
+					.ignore_err();
+			}
+
+			match pdus.next().await {
+				| Some((_, pdu_after_last_sync_end)) => {
+					trace!(?pdu_after_last_sync_end.event_id, "pdu at last sync end");
+
+					services
+						.rooms
+						.state_accessor
+						.pdu_shortstatehash(&pdu_after_last_sync_end.event_id)
+						.await
+						.map_err(|err| err!("Last sync end PDU has no shortstatehash: {err}"))
+				},
+				| None => {
+					// No events have been sent since the last sync, or we just joined this room,
+					// so the state then is the same as the state now
+					Ok(current_shortstatehash)
+				},
+			}
 		}))
-		.map(Option::flatten)
-		.map(Ok);
-
-	let (current_shortstatehash, last_sync_end_shortstatehash) =
-		try_join(current_shortstatehash, last_sync_end_shortstatehash).await?;
-
-	/*
-	associate the `current_count` with the `current_shortstatehash`, so we can
-	use it on the next sync as the `last_sync_end_shortstatehash`.
-
-	TODO: the table written to by this call grows extremely fast, gaining one new entry for each
-	joined room on _every single sync request_. we need to find a better way to remember the shortstatehash
-	between syncs.
-	*/
-	services
-		.rooms
-		.user
-		.associate_token_shortstatehash(room_id, current_count, current_shortstatehash)
-		.await;
+		.await
+		.transpose()?;
 
 	Ok(ShortStateHashes {
 		current_shortstatehash,
@@ -452,6 +455,7 @@ async fn build_state_events(
 		syncing_user,
 		last_sync_end_count,
 		full_state,
+		use_state_after,
 		..
 	} = sync_context;
 
@@ -460,32 +464,28 @@ async fn build_state_events(
 		last_sync_end_shortstatehash,
 	} = shortstatehashes;
 
-	// the spec states that the `state` property only includes state events up to
-	// the beginning of the timeline, so we determine the state of the syncing room
-	// as of the first timeline event. NOTE: this explanation is not entirely
-	// accurate; see the implementation of `build_state_incremental`.
-	let timeline_start_shortstatehash = async {
-		if let Some((_, pdu)) = timeline.pdus.front() {
-			if let Ok(shortstatehash) = services
+	let timeline_start_shortstatehash = if let Some((count, pdu)) = timeline.pdus.front() {
+		if matches!(count, PduCount::Backfilled(_)) {
+			// We don't have shortstatehashes for backfilled PDUs, the best we can
+			// do is to use the current state
+			current_shortstatehash
+		} else {
+			services
 				.rooms
 				.state_accessor
 				.pdu_shortstatehash(&pdu.event_id)
 				.await
-			{
-				return shortstatehash;
-			}
+				.map_err(|err| err!("Timeline start has no shortstatehash: {err}"))?
 		}
-
-		current_shortstatehash
+	} else {
+		// if the timeline is empty there can't possibly be any changes to the state
+		return Ok(vec![]);
 	};
 
 	// the user IDs of members whose membership needs to be sent to the client, if
 	// lazy-loading is enabled.
 	let lazily_loaded_members =
-		prepare_lazily_loaded_members(services, sync_context, room_id, timeline.senders());
-
-	let (timeline_start_shortstatehash, lazily_loaded_members) =
-		join(timeline_start_shortstatehash, lazily_loaded_members).await;
+		prepare_lazily_loaded_members(services, sync_context, room_id, timeline.senders()).await;
 
 	// compute the state delta between the previous sync and this sync.
 	match (last_sync_end_count, last_sync_end_shortstatehash) {
@@ -494,16 +494,15 @@ async fn build_state_events(
 		is Some (meaning the syncing user didn't just join this room for the first time ever), and `full_state` is false,
 		then use `build_state_incremental`.
 		*/
-		| (Some(last_sync_end_count), Some(last_sync_end_shortstatehash)) if !full_state =>
+		| (Some(_), Some(last_sync_end_shortstatehash)) if !full_state =>
 			build_state_incremental(
 				services,
 				syncing_user,
-				room_id,
-				PduCount::Normal(last_sync_end_count),
 				last_sync_end_shortstatehash,
 				timeline_start_shortstatehash,
 				current_shortstatehash,
 				timeline,
+				use_state_after,
 				lazily_loaded_members.as_ref(),
 			)
 			.boxed()
@@ -518,6 +517,8 @@ async fn build_state_events(
 				services,
 				syncing_user,
 				timeline_start_shortstatehash,
+				current_shortstatehash,
+				use_state_after,
 				lazily_loaded_members.as_ref(),
 			)
 			.boxed()
@@ -598,23 +599,25 @@ async fn check_joined_since_last_sync(
 	ShortStateHashes { last_sync_end_shortstatehash, .. }: ShortStateHashes,
 	SyncContext { syncing_user, .. }: SyncContext<'_>,
 ) -> Result<bool> {
-	// fetch the syncing user's membership event during the last sync.
-	// this will be None if `previous_sync_end_shortstatehash` is None.
-	let membership_during_previous_sync = match last_sync_end_shortstatehash {
-		| Some(last_sync_end_shortstatehash) => services
-			.rooms
-			.state_accessor
-			.state_get_content(
-				last_sync_end_shortstatehash,
-				&StateEventType::RoomMember,
-				syncing_user.as_str(),
-			)
-			.await
-			.inspect_err(|_| debug_warn!("User has no previous membership"))
-			.ok(),
-		| None => None,
+	let Some(last_sync_end_shortstatehash) = last_sync_end_shortstatehash else {
+		// For initial syncs always return false, since there's no "last sync" for the
+		// user to have joined since.
+		return Ok(false);
 	};
 
+	// Fetch the syncing user's membership event during the last sync.
+	let membership_during_previous_sync = services
+		.rooms
+		.state_accessor
+		.state_get_content(
+			last_sync_end_shortstatehash,
+			&StateEventType::RoomMember,
+			syncing_user.as_str(),
+		)
+		.await
+		.inspect_err(|_| debug_warn!("User has no previous membership"))
+		.ok();
+
 	// TODO: If the requesting user got state-reset out of the room, this
 	// will be `true` when it shouldn't be. this function should never be called
 	// in that situation, but it may be if the membership cache didn't get updated.
diff --git a/src/api/client/sync/v3/left.rs b/src/api/client/sync/v3/left.rs
index d833bfdf9..63d14b9ce 100644
--- a/src/api/client/sync/v3/left.rs
+++ b/src/api/client/sync/v3/left.rs
@@ -181,6 +181,9 @@ pub(super) async fn load_left_room(
 		.collect::<Vec<_>>()
 		.await;
 
+	let state_events =
+		StateEvents::with_events(state_events.into_iter().map(Event::into_format).collect());
+
 	Ok(Some(assign!(LeftRoom::new(), {
 		account_data: RoomAccountData::new(),
 		timeline: assign!(Timeline::new(), {
@@ -188,7 +191,11 @@ pub(super) async fn load_left_room(
 			prev_batch: Some(current_count.to_string()),
 			events: raw_timeline_pdus,
 		}),
-		state: State::Before(StateEvents::with_events(state_events.into_iter().map(Event::into_format).collect())),
+		state: if sync_context.use_state_after {
+			State::After(state_events)
+		} else {
+			State::Before(state_events)
+		},
 	})))
 }
 
@@ -264,6 +271,8 @@ async fn build_left_state_and_timeline(
 		services,
 		syncing_user,
 		timeline_start_shortstatehash,
+		leave_shortstatehash,
+		sync_context.use_state_after,
 		lazily_loaded_members.as_ref(),
 	)
 	.await?;
diff --git a/src/api/client/sync/v3/mod.rs b/src/api/client/sync/v3/mod.rs
index 1c3612b97..6b0d81f85 100644
--- a/src/api/client/sync/v3/mod.rs
+++ b/src/api/client/sync/v3/mod.rs
@@ -11,12 +11,11 @@ use std::{
 use axum::extract::State;
 use axum_client_ip::ClientIp;
 use conduwuit::{
-	Err, Result, at, extract_variant,
+	Err, Result, at, error, extract_variant,
 	utils::{
 		ReadyExt, TryFutureExtExt,
 		stream::{BroadbandExt, Tools, WidebandExt},
 	},
-	warn,
 };
 use conduwuit_service::Services;
 use futures::{FutureExt, StreamExt, TryFutureExt, future::OptionFuture};
@@ -110,6 +109,9 @@ struct SyncContext<'a> {
 	/// The sync filter, which the client uses to specify what data should be
 	/// included in the sync response.
 	filter: &'a FilterDefinition,
+	/// Whether the state at the end of the timeline should be used when
+	/// calculating state diffs for sync.
+	use_state_after: bool,
 }
 
 impl<'a> SyncContext<'a> {
@@ -261,6 +263,7 @@ pub(crate) async fn build_sync_events(
 		current_count,
 		full_state,
 		filter: &filter,
+		use_state_after: body.use_state_after,
 	};
 
 	let joined_rooms = services
@@ -273,7 +276,7 @@ pub(crate) async fn build_sync_events(
 			match joined_room {
 				| Ok((room, updates)) => Some((room_id, room, updates)),
 				| Err(err) => {
-					warn!(?err, %room_id, "error loading joined room");
+					error!(?err, %room_id, "error loading joined room");
 					None
 				},
 			}
@@ -302,7 +305,7 @@ pub(crate) async fn build_sync_events(
 				| Ok(Some(left_room)) => Some((room_id, left_room)),
 				| Ok(None) => None,
 				| Err(err) => {
-					warn!(?err, %room_id, "error loading joined room");
+					error!(?err, %room_id, "error loading joined room");
 					None
 				},
 			}
diff --git a/src/api/client/sync/v3/state.rs b/src/api/client/sync/v3/state.rs
index b22074d89..0da053d65 100644
--- a/src/api/client/sync/v3/state.rs
+++ b/src/api/client/sync/v3/state.rs
@@ -1,11 +1,8 @@
-use std::{collections::BTreeSet, ops::ControlFlow};
+use std::collections::HashSet;
 
 use conduwuit::{
-	Result, at, is_equal_to,
-	matrix::{
-		Event,
-		pdu::{PduCount, PduEvent},
-	},
+	Result, at,
+	matrix::{Event, pdu::PduEvent},
 	utils::{
 		BoolExt, IterStream, ReadyExt, TryFutureExtExt,
 		stream::{BroadbandExt, TryIgnore},
@@ -16,9 +13,7 @@ use conduwuit_service::{
 	rooms::{lazy_loading::MemberSet, short::ShortStateHash},
 };
 use futures::{FutureExt, StreamExt};
-use itertools::Itertools;
-use ruma::{OwnedEventId, RoomId, UserId, events::StateEventType};
-use service::rooms::short::ShortEventId;
+use ruma::{OwnedEventId, UserId, events::StateEventType};
 use tracing::trace;
 
 use crate::client::TimelinePdus;
@@ -39,13 +34,19 @@ pub(super) async fn build_state_initial(
 	services: &Services,
 	sender_user: &UserId,
 	timeline_start_shortstatehash: ShortStateHash,
+	timeline_end_shortstatehash: ShortStateHash,
+	use_state_after: bool,
 	lazily_loaded_members: Option<&MemberSet>,
 ) -> Result<Vec<PduEvent>> {
 	// load the keys and event IDs of the state events at the start of the timeline
 	let (shortstatekeys, event_ids): (Vec<_>, Vec<_>) = services
 		.rooms
 		.state_accessor
-		.state_full_ids(timeline_start_shortstatehash)
+		.state_full_ids(if use_state_after {
+			timeline_end_shortstatehash
+		} else {
+			timeline_start_shortstatehash
+		})
 		.unzip()
 		.await;
 
@@ -92,82 +93,34 @@ pub(super) async fn build_state_initial(
 pub(super) async fn build_state_incremental<'a>(
 	services: &Services,
 	sender_user: &'a UserId,
-	room_id: &RoomId,
-	last_sync_end_count: PduCount,
 	last_sync_end_shortstatehash: ShortStateHash,
 	timeline_start_shortstatehash: ShortStateHash,
 	timeline_end_shortstatehash: ShortStateHash,
 	timeline: &TimelinePdus,
+	use_state_after: bool,
 	lazily_loaded_members: Option<&'a MemberSet>,
 ) -> Result<Vec<PduEvent>> {
-	/*
-	NB: a limited sync is one where `timeline.limited == true`. Synapse calls this a "gappy" sync internally.
+	let mut state_event_ids: HashSet<OwnedEventId> = HashSet::new();
 
-	The algorithm implemented in this function is, currently, quite different from the algorithm vaguely described
-	by the Matrix specification. This is because the specification's description of the `state` property does not accurately
-	reflect how Synapse behaves, and therefore how client SDKs behave. Notable differences include:
-	1. We do not compute the delta using the naive approach of "every state event from the end of the last sync
-	   up to the start of this sync's timeline". see below for details.
-	2. If lazy-loading is enabled, we include lazily-loaded membership events. The specific users to include are determined
-	   elsewhere and supplied to this function in the `lazily_loaded_members` parameter.
-	*/
+	trace!(
+		%use_state_after,
+		%last_sync_end_shortstatehash,
+		%timeline_start_shortstatehash,
+		%timeline_end_shortstatehash,
+		"computing state for incremental sync"
+	);
 
-	/*
-	the `state` property of an incremental sync which isn't limited are _usually_ empty.
-	(note: the specification says that the `state` property is _always_ empty for limited syncs, which is incorrect.)
-	however, if an event in the timeline (`timeline.pdus`) merges a split in the room's DAG (i.e. has multiple `prev_events`),
-	the state at the _end_ of the timeline may include state events which were merged in and don't exist in the state
-	at the _start_ of the timeline. because this is uncommon, we check here to see if any events in the timeline
-	merged a split in the DAG.
+	// Fetch lazy-loaded membership events if lazy-loading is enabled
+	if let Some(lazily_loaded_members) = lazily_loaded_members
+		&& !lazily_loaded_members.is_empty()
+	{
+		trace!("including lazy membership events for members: {:?}", lazily_loaded_members);
 
-	see: https://github.com/element-hq/synapse/issues/16941
-	*/
-
-	let timeline_is_linear = timeline.pdus.is_empty() || {
-		let last_pdu_of_last_sync = services
+		services
 			.rooms
-			.timeline
-			.pdus_rev(room_id, Some(last_sync_end_count.saturating_add(1)))
-			.boxed()
-			.next()
-			.await
-			.transpose()
-			.expect("last sync should have had some PDUs")
-			.map(at!(1));
-
-		// make sure the prev_events of each pdu in the timeline refer only to the
-		// previous pdu
-		timeline
-			.pdus
-			.iter()
-			.try_fold(last_pdu_of_last_sync.map(|pdu| pdu.event_id), |prev_event_id, (_, pdu)| {
-				if let Ok(pdu_prev_event_id) = pdu.prev_events.iter().exactly_one() {
-					if prev_event_id
-						.as_ref()
-						.is_none_or(is_equal_to!(pdu_prev_event_id))
-					{
-						return ControlFlow::Continue(Some(pdu_prev_event_id.to_owned()));
-					}
-				}
-
-				trace!(
-					"pdu {:?} has split prev_events (expected {:?}): {:?}",
-					pdu.event_id, prev_event_id, pdu.prev_events
-				);
-				ControlFlow::Break(())
-			})
-			.is_continue()
-	};
-
-	if timeline_is_linear && !timeline.limited {
-		// if there are no splits in the DAG and the timeline isn't limited, then
-		// `state` will always be empty unless lazy loading is enabled.
-
-		if let Some(lazily_loaded_members) = lazily_loaded_members {
-			if !timeline.pdus.is_empty() {
-				// lazy loading is enabled, so we return the membership events which were
-				// requested by the caller.
-				let lazy_membership_events: Vec<_> = lazily_loaded_members
+			.short
+			.multi_get_eventid_from_short::<'_, OwnedEventId, _>(
+				lazily_loaded_members
 					.iter()
 					.stream()
 					.broad_filter_map(|user_id| async move {
@@ -178,71 +131,24 @@ pub(super) async fn build_state_incremental<'a>(
 						services
 							.rooms
 							.state_accessor
-							.state_get(
+							.state_get_shortid(
 								timeline_start_shortstatehash,
 								&StateEventType::RoomMember,
 								user_id.as_str(),
 							)
 							.ok()
 							.await
-					})
-					.collect()
-					.await;
-
-				if !lazy_membership_events.is_empty() {
-					trace!(
-						"syncing lazy membership events for members: {:?}",
-						lazy_membership_events
-							.iter()
-							.map(|pdu| pdu.state_key().unwrap())
-							.collect::<Vec<_>>()
-					);
-				}
-				return Ok(lazy_membership_events);
-			}
-		}
-
-		// lazy loading is disabled, `state` is empty.
-		return Ok(vec![]);
+					}),
+			)
+			.ignore_err()
+			.ready_for_each(|event_id| {
+				state_event_ids.insert(event_id);
+			})
+			.await;
 	}
 
-	/*
-	at this point, either the timeline is `limited` or the DAG has a split in it. this necessitates
-	computing the incremental state (which may be empty).
-
-	NOTE: this code path does not use the `lazy_membership_events` parameter. any changes to membership will be included
-	in the incremental state. therefore, the incremental state may include "redundant" membership events,
-	which we do not filter out because A. the spec forbids lazy-load filtering if the timeline is `limited`,
-	and B. DAG splits which require sending extra membership state events are (probably) uncommon enough that
-	the performance penalty is acceptable.
-	*/
-
-	trace!(%timeline_is_linear, %timeline.limited, "computing state for incremental sync");
-
-	// fetch the shorteventids of state events in the timeline
-	let state_events_in_timeline: BTreeSet<ShortEventId> = services
-		.rooms
-		.short
-		.multi_get_or_create_shorteventid(timeline.pdus.iter().filter_map(|(_, pdu)| {
-			if pdu.state_key().is_some() {
-				Some(pdu.event_id.as_ref())
-			} else {
-				None
-			}
-		}))
-		.collect()
-		.await;
-
-	trace!("{} state events in timeline", state_events_in_timeline.len());
-
-	/*
-	fetch the state events which were added since the last sync.
-
-	specifically we fetch the difference between the state at the last sync and the state at the _end_
-	of the timeline, and then we filter out state events in the timeline itself using the shorteventids we fetched.
-	this is necessary to account for splits in the DAG, as explained above.
-	*/
-	let state_diff = services
+	// Fetch the state events added since the last sync.
+	services
 		.rooms
 		.short
 		.multi_get_eventid_from_short::<'_, OwnedEventId, _>(
@@ -252,18 +158,29 @@ pub(super) async fn build_state_incremental<'a>(
 				.state_added((last_sync_end_shortstatehash, timeline_end_shortstatehash))
 				.await?
 				.stream()
-				.ready_filter_map(|(_, shorteventid)| {
-					if state_events_in_timeline.contains(&shorteventid) {
-						None
-					} else {
-						Some(shorteventid)
-					}
-				}),
+				.map(at!(1)),
 		)
-		.ignore_err();
+		.ignore_err()
+		.ready_for_each(|event_id| {
+			state_event_ids.insert(event_id);
+		})
+		.await;
 
-	// finally, fetch the PDU contents and collect them into a vec
-	let state_diff_pdus = state_diff
+	if !use_state_after {
+		// If state_after isn't enabled, filter out state events which also exist
+		// in the timeline. If splits exist in the DAG, this may not be exactly the same
+		// thing as the state diff ending at the start of the timeline, but Synapse
+		// also does this and it's technically more useful behavior anyway.
+		// See: https://github.com/element-hq/synapse/issues/16941
+
+		for (_, pdu) in &timeline.pdus {
+			state_event_ids.remove(pdu.event_id());
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Finally, fetch the PDU contents and collect them into a vec
+	let state_diff_pdus = state_event_ids
+		.stream()
 		.broad_filter_map(|event_id| async move {
 			services
 				.rooms
diff --git a/src/api/client/sync/v5.rs b/src/api/client/sync/v5.rs
index c396cbdb9..59a79e768 100644
--- a/src/api/client/sync/v5.rs
+++ b/src/api/client/sync/v5.rs
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ use conduwuit::{
 		BoolExt, FutureBoolExt, IterStream, ReadyExt, TryFutureExtExt,
 		future::ReadyEqExt,
 		math::{ruma_from_usize, usize_from_ruma},
-		stream::WidebandExt,
+		stream::{TryIgnore, WidebandExt},
 	},
 	warn,
 };
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ use ruma::{
 	uint,
 };
 use service::account_data::AnyRawAccountDataEvent;
+use tokio::pin;
 
 use super::share_encrypted_room;
 use crate::{
@@ -858,12 +859,27 @@ where
 			continue;
 		};
 
-		let since_shortstatehash = services
-			.rooms
-			.user
-			.get_token_shortstatehash(room_id, globalsince)
-			.await
-			.ok();
+		let since_shortstatehash = async {
+			pin! {
+				let pdus_rev = services
+					.rooms
+					.timeline
+					.pdus_rev(room_id, Some(PduCount::Normal(globalsince.saturating_sub(1))))
+					.ignore_err();
+			}
+
+			let (_, pdu_at_last_sync_end) = pdus_rev.next().await?;
+
+			Some(
+				services
+					.rooms
+					.state_accessor
+					.pdu_shortstatehash(&pdu_at_last_sync_end.event_id)
+					.await
+					.expect("pdu should have a shortstatehash"),
+			)
+		}
+		.await;
 
 		let encrypted_room = services
 			.rooms
diff --git a/src/database/maps.rs b/src/database/maps.rs
index e8eb02331..03fbbda72 100644
--- a/src/database/maps.rs
+++ b/src/database/maps.rs
@@ -193,12 +193,7 @@ pub(super) static MAPS: &[Descriptor] = &[
 	},
 	Descriptor {
 		name: "roomsynctoken_shortstatehash",
-		file_shape: 3,
-		val_size_hint: Some(8),
-		block_size: 512,
-		compression_level: 3,
-		bottommost_level: Some(6),
-		..descriptor::SEQUENTIAL
+		..descriptor::DROPPED
 	},
 	Descriptor {
 		name: "roomuserdataid_accountdata",
diff --git a/src/service/rooms/user/mod.rs b/src/service/rooms/user/mod.rs
index bd76f1f4c..c6a9f9cca 100644
--- a/src/service/rooms/user/mod.rs
+++ b/src/service/rooms/user/mod.rs
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 use std::sync::Arc;
 
 use conduwuit::{Result, implement};
-use database::{Database, Deserialized, Map};
+use database::{Deserialized, Map};
 use ruma::{RoomId, UserId};
 
-use crate::{Dep, globals, rooms, rooms::short::ShortStateHash};
+use crate::{Dep, globals};
 
 pub struct Service {
 	db: Data,
@@ -12,32 +12,25 @@ pub struct Service {
 }
 
 struct Data {
-	db: Arc<Database>,
 	userroomid_notificationcount: Arc<Map>,
 	userroomid_highlightcount: Arc<Map>,
 	roomuserid_lastnotificationread: Arc<Map>,
-	roomsynctoken_shortstatehash: Arc<Map>,
 }
 
 struct Services {
 	globals: Dep<globals::Service>,
-	short: Dep<rooms::short::Service>,
 }
 
 impl crate::Service for Service {
 	fn build(args: crate::Args<'_>) -> Result<Arc<Self>> {
 		Ok(Arc::new(Self {
 			db: Data {
-				db: args.db.clone(),
 				userroomid_notificationcount: args.db["userroomid_notificationcount"].clone(),
 				userroomid_highlightcount: args.db["userroomid_highlightcount"].clone(),
 				roomuserid_lastnotificationread: args.db["userroomid_highlightcount"].clone(),
-				roomsynctoken_shortstatehash: args.db["roomsynctoken_shortstatehash"].clone(),
 			},
-
 			services: Services {
 				globals: args.depend::<globals::Service>("globals"),
-				short: args.depend::<rooms::short::Service>("rooms::short"),
 			},
 		}))
 	}
@@ -90,40 +83,3 @@ pub async fn last_notification_read(&self, user_id: &UserId, room_id: &RoomId) -
 		.deserialized()
 		.unwrap_or(0)
 }
-
-#[implement(Service)]
-pub async fn associate_token_shortstatehash(
-	&self,
-	room_id: &RoomId,
-	token: u64,
-	shortstatehash: ShortStateHash,
-) {
-	let shortroomid = self
-		.services
-		.short
-		.get_shortroomid(room_id)
-		.await
-		.expect("room exists");
-
-	let _cork = self.db.db.cork();
-	let key: &[u64] = &[shortroomid, token];
-	self.db
-		.roomsynctoken_shortstatehash
-		.put(key, shortstatehash);
-}
-
-#[implement(Service)]
-pub async fn get_token_shortstatehash(
-	&self,
-	room_id: &RoomId,
-	token: u64,
-) -> Result<ShortStateHash> {
-	let shortroomid = self.services.short.get_shortroomid(room_id).await?;
-
-	let key: &[u64] = &[shortroomid, token];
-	self.db
-		.roomsynctoken_shortstatehash
-		.qry(key)
-		.await
-		.deserialized()
-}