diff --git a/synapse/push/bulk_push_rule_evaluator.py b/synapse/push/bulk_push_rule_evaluator.py
index 425a017bdf..841ccbd1f1 100644
--- a/synapse/push/bulk_push_rule_evaluator.py
+++ b/synapse/push/bulk_push_rule_evaluator.py
@@ -191,6 +191,9 @@ class BulkPushRuleEvaluator(object):
                     actions = [x for x in rule['actions'] if x != 'dont_notify']
                     if actions and 'notify' in actions:
                         actions_by_user[uid] = actions
+                        yield self.store.add_push_actions_to_staging(
+                            event.event_id, uid, actions,
+                        )
                     break
         defer.returnValue(actions_by_user)
 
diff --git a/synapse/storage/event_push_actions.py b/synapse/storage/event_push_actions.py
index 8efe2fd4bb..80c3cfe95f 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/event_push_actions.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/event_push_actions.py
@@ -738,6 +738,33 @@ class EventPushActionsStore(SQLBaseStore):
             (rotate_to_stream_ordering,)
         )
 
+    def add_push_actions_to_staging(self, event_id, user_id, actions):
+        """Add the push actions for the user and event to the push
+        action staging area.
+
+        Args:
+            event_id (str)
+            user_id (str)
+            actions (list)
+
+        Returns:
+            Deferred
+        """
+
+        is_highlight = _action_has_highlight(actions)
+
+        return self._simple_insert(
+            table="event_push_actions_staging",
+            values={
+                "event_id": event_id,
+                "user_id": user_id,
+                "actions": _serialize_action(actions, is_highlight),
+                "notif": True,
+                "highlight": is_highlight,
+            },
+            desc="add_push_actions_to_staging",
+        )
+
 
 def _action_has_highlight(actions):
     for action in actions:
diff --git a/synapse/storage/schema/delta/47/push_actions_staging.sql b/synapse/storage/schema/delta/47/push_actions_staging.sql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ec4b1d7d42
--- /dev/null
+++ b/synapse/storage/schema/delta/47/push_actions_staging.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+/* Copyright 2018 New Vector Ltd
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+CREATE TABLE event_push_actions_staging (
+    event_id TEXT NOT NULL,
+    user_id TEXT NOT NULL,
+    actions TEXT NOT NULL,
+    notif SMALLINT NOT NULL,
+    highlight SMALLINT NOT NULL
+);
+
+CREATE INDEX event_push_actions_staging_id ON event_push_actions_staging(event_id);