diff --git a/changelog.d/16273.misc b/changelog.d/16273.misc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..19882f6754
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/16273.misc
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Stop purging from tables slated for removal.
diff --git a/synapse/storage/databases/main/purge_events.py b/synapse/storage/databases/main/purge_events.py
index b52f48cf04..dea0e0458c 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/databases/main/purge_events.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/databases/main/purge_events.py
@@ -450,10 +450,6 @@ class PurgeEventsStore(StateGroupWorkerStore, CacheInvalidationWorkerStore):
             "e2e_room_keys",
             "event_push_summary",
             "pusher_throttle",
-            "insertion_events",
-            "insertion_event_extremities",
-            "insertion_event_edges",
-            "batch_events",
             "room_account_data",
             "room_tags",
             # "rooms" happens last, to keep the foreign keys in the other tables
diff --git a/synapse/storage/schema/__init__.py b/synapse/storage/schema/__init__.py
index 422f11f59e..5b50bd66bc 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/schema/__init__.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/schema/__init__.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-SCHEMA_VERSION = 81  # remember to update the list below when updating
+SCHEMA_VERSION = 82  # remember to update the list below when updating
 """Represents the expectations made by the codebase about the database schema
 
 This should be incremented whenever the codebase changes its requirements on the
@@ -117,6 +117,10 @@ Changes in SCHEMA_VERSION = 80
 
 Changes in SCHEMA_VERSION = 81
     - The event_txn_id is no longer written to for new events.
+
+Changes in SCHEMA_VERSION = 82
+    - The insertion_events, insertion_event_extremities, insertion_event_edges, and
+      batch_events tables are no longer purged in preparation for their removal.
 """