diff --git a/synapse/http/client.py b/synapse/http/client.py
index b3cd5ff26a..cbd45b2bbe 100644
--- a/synapse/http/client.py
+++ b/synapse/http/client.py
@@ -268,17 +268,20 @@ class CaptchaServerHttpClient(SimpleHttpClient):
             # twisted dislikes google's response, no content length.
             defer.returnValue(e.response)
 
+
 def encode_urlencode_args(args):
-    return { k: encode_urlencode_arg(v) for k, v in args.items() }
+    return {k: encode_urlencode_arg(v) for k, v in args.items()}
+
 
 def encode_urlencode_arg(arg):
     if isinstance(arg, unicode):
         return arg.encode('utf-8')
     elif isinstance(arg, list):
-        return [ encode_urlencode_arg(i) for i in arg ]
+        return [encode_urlencode_arg(i) for i in arg]
     else:
         return arg
 
+
 def _print_ex(e):
     if hasattr(e, "reasons") and e.reasons:
         for ex in e.reasons: