diff --git a/synapse/http/client.py b/synapse/http/client.py
index 6bd47cbfab..3af5de52d7 100644
--- a/synapse/http/client.py
+++ b/synapse/http/client.py
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ class IPBlacklistingResolver(object):
     addresses, preventing DNS rebinding attacks on URL preview.
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, reactor, ip_whitelist, ip_blacklist, federation=False):
+    def __init__(self, reactor, ip_whitelist, ip_blacklist):
         """
         Args:
             reactor (twisted.internet.reactor)
@@ -87,7 +87,6 @@ class IPBlacklistingResolver(object):
         self._reactor = reactor
         self._ip_whitelist = ip_whitelist
         self._ip_blacklist = ip_blacklist
-        self._from_federation = federation
 
     def resolveHostName(self, recv, hostname, portNumber=0):
 
diff --git a/synapse/http/matrixfederationclient.py b/synapse/http/matrixfederationclient.py
index 71685f4352..6fe337e4bb 100644
--- a/synapse/http/matrixfederationclient.py
+++ b/synapse/http/matrixfederationclient.py
@@ -182,7 +182,6 @@ class MatrixFederationHttpClient(object):
         # addresses, to prevent DNS rebinding.
         nameResolver = IPBlacklistingResolver(
             real_reactor, None, hs.config.federation_ip_range_blacklist,
-            federation=True,
         )
 
         @implementer(IReactorPluggableNameResolver)
diff --git a/tests/http/test_fedclient.py b/tests/http/test_fedclient.py
index e5de0f5c2a..81aa74920c 100644
--- a/tests/http/test_fedclient.py
+++ b/tests/http/test_fedclient.py
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ class FederationClientTests(HomeserverTestCase):
                 fetch_d = cl.get_json("internal:8008", "foo/bar")
 
                 # Nothing happened yet
-                #self.assertNoResult(fetch_d)
+                self.assertNoResult(fetch_d)
 
                 # should have reset logcontext to the sentinel
                 check_logcontext(LoggingContext.sentinel)
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ class FederationClientTests(HomeserverTestCase):
         self.pump()
 
         # Nothing has happened yet
-        self.failureResultOf(d, SynapseError)
+        self.assertNoResult(d)
 
         # Check that it was unable to resolve the address
         clients = self.reactor.tcpClients