diff --git a/synapse/config/registration.py b/synapse/config/registration.py
index b39989a87f..67e780864e 100644
--- a/synapse/config/registration.py
+++ b/synapse/config/registration.py
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ class RegistrationConfig(Config):
         ## Registration ##
 
         # Enable registration for new users.
-        enable_registration: True
+        enable_registration: False
 
         # If set, allows registration by anyone who also has the shared
         # secret, even if registration is otherwise disabled.
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/auth.py b/synapse/handlers/auth.py
index 4e2e50345e..0cc28248a9 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/auth.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/auth.py
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ class AuthHandler(BaseHandler):
         # each request
         try:
             client = SimpleHttpClient(self.hs)
-            data = yield client.post_urlencoded_get_json(
+            resp_body = yield client.post_urlencoded_get_json(
                 "https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api/siteverify",
                 args={
                     'secret': self.hs.config.recaptcha_private_key,
@@ -198,7 +198,8 @@ class AuthHandler(BaseHandler):
         except PartialDownloadError as pde:
             # Twisted is silly
             data = pde.response
-        resp_body = simplejson.loads(data)
+            resp_body = simplejson.loads(data)
+
         if 'success' in resp_body and resp_body['success']:
             defer.returnValue(True)
         raise LoginError(401, "", errcode=Codes.UNAUTHORIZED)
diff --git a/synapse/http/client.py b/synapse/http/client.py
index 5b3cefb2dc..e746f2416e 100644
--- a/synapse/http/client.py
+++ b/synapse/http/client.py
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@ import synapse.metrics
 
 from twisted.internet import defer, reactor
 from twisted.web.client import (
-    Agent, readBody, FileBodyProducer, PartialDownloadError
+    Agent, readBody, FileBodyProducer, PartialDownloadError,
+    HTTPConnectionPool,
 )
 from twisted.web.http_headers import Headers
 
@@ -55,7 +56,9 @@ class SimpleHttpClient(object):
         # The default context factory in Twisted 14.0.0 (which we require) is
         # BrowserLikePolicyForHTTPS which will do regular cert validation
         # 'like a browser'
-        self.agent = Agent(reactor)
+        pool = HTTPConnectionPool(reactor)
+        pool.maxPersistentPerHost = 10
+        self.agent = Agent(reactor, pool=pool)
         self.version_string = hs.version_string
 
     def request(self, method, *args, **kwargs):
diff --git a/synapse/http/matrixfederationclient.py b/synapse/http/matrixfederationclient.py
index 6f976d5ce8..7f3d8fc884 100644
--- a/synapse/http/matrixfederationclient.py
+++ b/synapse/http/matrixfederationclient.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 
 from twisted.internet import defer, reactor, protocol
 from twisted.internet.error import DNSLookupError
-from twisted.web.client import readBody, _AgentBase, _URI
+from twisted.web.client import readBody, _AgentBase, _URI, HTTPConnectionPool
 from twisted.web.http_headers import Headers
 from twisted.web._newclient import ResponseDone
 
@@ -103,7 +103,9 @@ class MatrixFederationHttpClient(object):
         self.hs = hs
         self.signing_key = hs.config.signing_key[0]
         self.server_name = hs.hostname
-        self.agent = MatrixFederationHttpAgent(reactor)
+        pool = HTTPConnectionPool(reactor)
+        pool.maxPersistentPerHost = 10
+        self.agent = MatrixFederationHttpAgent(reactor, pool=pool)
         self.clock = hs.get_clock()
         self.version_string = hs.version_string
 
diff --git a/synapse/util/jsonobject.py b/synapse/util/jsonobject.py
index 0765f7d217..00f86ed220 100644
--- a/synapse/util/jsonobject.py
+++ b/synapse/util/jsonobject.py
@@ -13,8 +13,6 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-import copy
-
 
 class JsonEncodedObject(object):
     """ A common base class for defining protocol units that are represented
@@ -76,15 +74,7 @@ class JsonEncodedObject(object):
             if k in self.valid_keys and k not in self.internal_keys
         }
         d.update(self.unrecognized_keys)
-        return copy.deepcopy(d)
-
-    def get_full_dict(self):
-        d = {
-            k: _encode(v) for (k, v) in self.__dict__.items()
-            if k in self.valid_keys or k in self.internal_keys
-        }
-        d.update(self.unrecognized_keys)
-        return copy.deepcopy(d)
+        return d
 
     def __str__(self):
         return "(%s, %s)" % (self.__class__.__name__, repr(self.__dict__))