diff --git a/changelog.d/7914.misc b/changelog.d/7914.misc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..710553249c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/7914.misc
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Lint the `contrib/` directory in CI and linting scripts, add `synctl` to the linting script for consistency with CI.
diff --git a/contrib/cmdclient/console.py b/contrib/cmdclient/console.py
index 48da410d94..77422f5e5d 100755
--- a/contrib/cmdclient/console.py
+++ b/contrib/cmdclient/console.py
@@ -17,9 +17,6 @@
 """ Starts a synapse client console. """
 from __future__ import print_function
 
-from twisted.internet import reactor, defer, threads
-from http import TwistedHttpClient
-
 import argparse
 import cmd
 import getpass
@@ -28,12 +25,14 @@ import shlex
 import sys
 import time
 import urllib
-import urlparse
+from http import TwistedHttpClient
 
-import nacl.signing
 import nacl.encoding
+import nacl.signing
+import urlparse
+from signedjson.sign import SignatureVerifyException, verify_signed_json
 
-from signedjson.sign import verify_signed_json, SignatureVerifyException
+from twisted.internet import defer, reactor, threads
 
 CONFIG_JSON = "cmdclient_config.json"
 
@@ -493,7 +492,7 @@ class SynapseCmd(cmd.Cmd):
         "list messages <roomid> from=END&to=START&limit=3"
         """
         args = self._parse(line, ["type", "roomid", "qp"])
-        if not "type" in args or not "roomid" in args:
+        if "type" not in args or "roomid" not in args:
             print("Must specify type and room ID.")
             return
         if args["type"] not in ["members", "messages"]:
@@ -508,7 +507,7 @@ class SynapseCmd(cmd.Cmd):
                 try:
                     key_value = key_value_str.split("=")
                     qp[key_value[0]] = key_value[1]
-                except:
+                except Exception:
                     print("Bad query param: %s" % key_value)
                     return
 
@@ -585,7 +584,7 @@ class SynapseCmd(cmd.Cmd):
                 parsed_url = urlparse.urlparse(args["path"])
                 qp.update(urlparse.parse_qs(parsed_url.query))
                 args["path"] = parsed_url.path
-            except:
+            except Exception:
                 pass
 
         reactor.callFromThread(
@@ -772,10 +771,10 @@ def main(server_url, identity_server_url, username, token, config_path):
             syn_cmd.config = json.load(config)
             try:
                 http_client.verbose = "on" == syn_cmd.config["verbose"]
-            except:
+            except Exception:
                 pass
             print("Loaded config from %s" % config_path)
-    except:
+    except Exception:
         pass
 
     # Twisted-specific: Runs the command processor in Twisted's event loop
diff --git a/contrib/cmdclient/http.py b/contrib/cmdclient/http.py
index 0e101d2be5..e2534ee584 100644
--- a/contrib/cmdclient/http.py
+++ b/contrib/cmdclient/http.py
@@ -14,14 +14,14 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 from __future__ import print_function
-from twisted.web.client import Agent, readBody
-from twisted.web.http_headers import Headers
-from twisted.internet import defer, reactor
-
-from pprint import pformat
 
 import json
 import urllib
+from pprint import pformat
+
+from twisted.internet import defer, reactor
+from twisted.web.client import Agent, readBody
+from twisted.web.http_headers import Headers
 
 
 class HttpClient(object):
diff --git a/contrib/experiments/test_messaging.py b/contrib/experiments/test_messaging.py
index ac9079fe94..a84ec4ecae 100644
--- a/contrib/experiments/test_messaging.py
+++ b/contrib/experiments/test_messaging.py
@@ -28,27 +28,24 @@ Currently assumes the local address is localhost:<port>
 """
 
 
-from synapse.federation import ReplicationHandler
-
-from synapse.federation.units import Pdu
-
-from synapse.util import origin_from_ucid
-
-from synapse.app.homeserver import SynapseHomeServer
-
-# from synapse.logging.utils import log_function
-
-from twisted.internet import reactor, defer
-from twisted.python import log
-
 import argparse
+import curses.wrapper
 import json
 import logging
 import os
 import re
 
 import cursesio
-import curses.wrapper
+
+from twisted.internet import defer, reactor
+from twisted.python import log
+
+from synapse.app.homeserver import SynapseHomeServer
+from synapse.federation import ReplicationHandler
+from synapse.federation.units import Pdu
+from synapse.util import origin_from_ucid
+
+# from synapse.logging.utils import log_function
 
 
 logger = logging.getLogger("example")
@@ -201,16 +198,6 @@ class HomeServer(ReplicationHandler):
                 % (pdu.context, pdu.pdu_type, json.dumps(pdu.content))
             )
 
-    # def on_state_change(self, pdu):
-    ##self.output.print_line("#%s (state) %s *** %s" %
-    ##(pdu.context, pdu.state_key, pdu.pdu_type)
-    ##)
-
-    # if "joinee" in pdu.content:
-    # self._on_join(pdu.context, pdu.content["joinee"])
-    # elif "invitee" in pdu.content:
-    # self._on_invite(pdu.origin, pdu.context, pdu.content["invitee"])
-
     def _on_message(self, pdu):
         """ We received a message
         """
@@ -314,7 +301,7 @@ class HomeServer(ReplicationHandler):
         return self.replication_layer.backfill(dest, room_name, limit)
 
     def _get_room_remote_servers(self, room_name):
-        return [i for i in self.joined_rooms.setdefault(room_name).servers]
+        return list(self.joined_rooms.setdefault(room_name).servers)
 
     def _get_or_create_room(self, room_name):
         return self.joined_rooms.setdefault(room_name, Room(room_name))
@@ -334,7 +321,7 @@ def main(stdscr):
     user = args.user
     server_name = origin_from_ucid(user)
 
-    ## Set up logging ##
+    # Set up logging
 
     root_logger = logging.getLogger()
 
@@ -354,7 +341,7 @@ def main(stdscr):
     observer = log.PythonLoggingObserver()
     observer.start()
 
-    ## Set up synapse server
+    # Set up synapse server
 
     curses_stdio = cursesio.CursesStdIO(stdscr)
     input_output = InputOutput(curses_stdio, user)
@@ -368,16 +355,16 @@ def main(stdscr):
 
     input_output.set_home_server(hs)
 
-    ## Add input_output logger
+    # Add input_output logger
     io_logger = IOLoggerHandler(input_output)
     io_logger.setFormatter(formatter)
     root_logger.addHandler(io_logger)
 
-    ## Start! ##
+    # Start!
 
     try:
         port = int(server_name.split(":")[1])
-    except:
+    except Exception:
         port = 12345
 
     app_hs.get_http_server().start_listening(port)
diff --git a/contrib/graph/graph.py b/contrib/graph/graph.py
index 92736480eb..de33fac1c7 100644
--- a/contrib/graph/graph.py
+++ b/contrib/graph/graph.py
@@ -1,5 +1,13 @@
 from __future__ import print_function
 
+import argparse
+import cgi
+import datetime
+import json
+
+import pydot
+import urllib2
+
 # Copyright 2014-2016 OpenMarket Ltd
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
@@ -15,15 +23,6 @@ from __future__ import print_function
 # limitations under the License.
 
 
-import sqlite3
-import pydot
-import cgi
-import json
-import datetime
-import argparse
-import urllib2
-
-
 def make_name(pdu_id, origin):
     return "%s@%s" % (pdu_id, origin)
 
@@ -33,7 +32,7 @@ def make_graph(pdus, room, filename_prefix):
     node_map = {}
 
     origins = set()
-    colors = set(("red", "green", "blue", "yellow", "purple"))
+    colors = {"red", "green", "blue", "yellow", "purple"}
 
     for pdu in pdus:
         origins.add(pdu.get("origin"))
@@ -49,7 +48,7 @@ def make_graph(pdus, room, filename_prefix):
         try:
             c = colors.pop()
             color_map[o] = c
-        except:
+        except Exception:
             print("Run out of colours!")
             color_map[o] = "black"
 
diff --git a/contrib/graph/graph2.py b/contrib/graph/graph2.py
index 4619f0e3c1..0980231e4a 100644
--- a/contrib/graph/graph2.py
+++ b/contrib/graph/graph2.py
@@ -13,12 +13,13 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 
-import sqlite3
-import pydot
-import cgi
-import json
-import datetime
 import argparse
+import cgi
+import datetime
+import json
+import sqlite3
+
+import pydot
 
 from synapse.events import FrozenEvent
 from synapse.util.frozenutils import unfreeze
@@ -98,7 +99,7 @@ def make_graph(db_name, room_id, file_prefix, limit):
         for prev_id, _ in event.prev_events:
             try:
                 end_node = node_map[prev_id]
-            except:
+            except Exception:
                 end_node = pydot.Node(name=prev_id, label="<<b>%s</b>>" % (prev_id,))
 
                 node_map[prev_id] = end_node
diff --git a/contrib/graph/graph3.py b/contrib/graph/graph3.py
index 3154638520..91db98e7ef 100644
--- a/contrib/graph/graph3.py
+++ b/contrib/graph/graph3.py
@@ -1,5 +1,15 @@
 from __future__ import print_function
 
+import argparse
+import cgi
+import datetime
+
+import pydot
+import simplejson as json
+
+from synapse.events import FrozenEvent
+from synapse.util.frozenutils import unfreeze
+
 # Copyright 2016 OpenMarket Ltd
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
@@ -15,16 +25,6 @@ from __future__ import print_function
 # limitations under the License.
 
 
-import pydot
-import cgi
-import simplejson as json
-import datetime
-import argparse
-
-from synapse.events import FrozenEvent
-from synapse.util.frozenutils import unfreeze
-
-
 def make_graph(file_name, room_id, file_prefix, limit):
     print("Reading lines")
     with open(file_name) as f:
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ def make_graph(file_name, room_id, file_prefix, limit):
         for prev_id, _ in event.prev_events:
             try:
                 end_node = node_map[prev_id]
-            except:
+            except Exception:
                 end_node = pydot.Node(name=prev_id, label="<<b>%s</b>>" % (prev_id,))
 
                 node_map[prev_id] = end_node
diff --git a/contrib/jitsimeetbridge/jitsimeetbridge.py b/contrib/jitsimeetbridge/jitsimeetbridge.py
index 67fb2cd1a7..69aa74bd34 100644
--- a/contrib/jitsimeetbridge/jitsimeetbridge.py
+++ b/contrib/jitsimeetbridge/jitsimeetbridge.py
@@ -12,15 +12,15 @@ npm install jquery jsdom
 """
 from __future__ import print_function
 
-import gevent
-import grequests
-from BeautifulSoup import BeautifulSoup
 import json
-import urllib
 import subprocess
 import time
 
-# ACCESS_TOKEN="" #
+import gevent
+import grequests
+from BeautifulSoup import BeautifulSoup
+
+ACCESS_TOKEN = ""
 
 MATRIXBASE = "https://matrix.org/_matrix/client/api/v1/"
 MYUSERNAME = "@davetest:matrix.org"
diff --git a/contrib/scripts/kick_users.py b/contrib/scripts/kick_users.py
index f57e6e7d25..372dbd9e4f 100755
--- a/contrib/scripts/kick_users.py
+++ b/contrib/scripts/kick_users.py
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 from __future__ import print_function
-from argparse import ArgumentParser
+
 import json
-import requests
 import sys
 import urllib
+from argparse import ArgumentParser
+
+import requests
 
 try:
     raw_input
diff --git a/scripts-dev/lint.sh b/scripts-dev/lint.sh
index 66b0568858..0647993658 100755
--- a/scripts-dev/lint.sh
+++ b/scripts-dev/lint.sh
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ if [ $# -ge 1 ]
 then
   files=$*
 else
-  files="synapse tests scripts-dev scripts"
+  files="synapse tests scripts-dev scripts contrib synctl"
 fi
 
 echo "Linting these locations: $files"
diff --git a/tox.ini b/tox.ini
index 1c042cb227..834d68aea5 100644
--- a/tox.ini
+++ b/tox.ini
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ deps =
     black==19.10b0
 commands =
     python -m black --check --diff .
-    /bin/sh -c "flake8 synapse tests scripts scripts-dev synctl {env:PEP8SUFFIX:}"
+    /bin/sh -c "flake8 synapse tests scripts scripts-dev contrib synctl {env:PEP8SUFFIX:}"
     {toxinidir}/scripts-dev/config-lint.sh
 
 [testenv:check_isort]