diff --git a/synapse/handlers/federation.py b/synapse/handlers/federation.py
index 49068c06d9..91d8def08b 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/federation.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/federation.py
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ class FederationHandler(BaseHandler):
         self.hs = hs
 
         self.store = hs.get_datastore()
-        self.replication_layer = hs.get_federation_client()
+        self.federation_client = hs.get_federation_client()
         self.state_handler = hs.get_state_handler()
         self.server_name = hs.hostname
         self.keyring = hs.get_keyring()
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ class FederationHandler(BaseHandler):
                     # know about
                     for p in prevs - seen:
                         state, got_auth_chain = (
-                            yield self.replication_layer.get_state_for_room(
+                            yield self.federation_client.get_state_for_room(
                                 origin, pdu.room_id, p
                             )
                         )
@@ -338,7 +338,7 @@ class FederationHandler(BaseHandler):
         #
         # see https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/pull/1744
 
-        missing_events = yield self.replication_layer.get_missing_events(
+        missing_events = yield self.federation_client.get_missing_events(
             origin,
             pdu.room_id,
             earliest_events_ids=list(latest),
@@ -522,7 +522,7 @@ class FederationHandler(BaseHandler):
         if dest == self.server_name:
             raise SynapseError(400, "Can't backfill from self.")
 
-        events = yield self.replication_layer.backfill(
+        events = yield self.federation_client.backfill(
             dest,
             room_id,
             limit=limit,
@@ -570,7 +570,7 @@ class FederationHandler(BaseHandler):
         state_events = {}
         events_to_state = {}
         for e_id in edges:
-            state, auth = yield self.replication_layer.get_state_for_room(
+            state, auth = yield self.federation_client.get_state_for_room(
                 destination=dest,
                 room_id=room_id,
                 event_id=e_id
@@ -612,7 +612,7 @@ class FederationHandler(BaseHandler):
                 results = yield logcontext.make_deferred_yieldable(defer.gatherResults(
                     [
                         logcontext.run_in_background(
-                            self.replication_layer.get_pdu,
+                            self.federation_client.get_pdu,
                             [dest],
                             event_id,
                             outlier=True,
@@ -893,7 +893,7 @@ class FederationHandler(BaseHandler):
 
         Invites must be signed by the invitee's server before distribution.
         """
-        pdu = yield self.replication_layer.send_invite(
+        pdu = yield self.federation_client.send_invite(
             destination=target_host,
             room_id=event.room_id,
             event_id=event.event_id,
@@ -955,7 +955,7 @@ class FederationHandler(BaseHandler):
                 target_hosts.insert(0, origin)
             except ValueError:
                 pass
-            ret = yield self.replication_layer.send_join(target_hosts, event)
+            ret = yield self.federation_client.send_join(target_hosts, event)
 
             origin = ret["origin"]
             state = ret["state"]
@@ -1211,7 +1211,7 @@ class FederationHandler(BaseHandler):
         except ValueError:
             pass
 
-        yield self.replication_layer.send_leave(
+        yield self.federation_client.send_leave(
             target_hosts,
             event
         )
@@ -1234,7 +1234,7 @@ class FederationHandler(BaseHandler):
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def _make_and_verify_event(self, target_hosts, room_id, user_id, membership,
                                content={},):
-        origin, pdu = yield self.replication_layer.make_membership_event(
+        origin, pdu = yield self.federation_client.make_membership_event(
             target_hosts,
             room_id,
             user_id,
@@ -1567,7 +1567,7 @@ class FederationHandler(BaseHandler):
                     missing_auth_events.add(e_id)
 
         for e_id in missing_auth_events:
-            m_ev = yield self.replication_layer.get_pdu(
+            m_ev = yield self.federation_client.get_pdu(
                 [origin],
                 e_id,
                 outlier=True,
@@ -1777,7 +1777,7 @@ class FederationHandler(BaseHandler):
             logger.info("Missing auth: %s", missing_auth)
             # If we don't have all the auth events, we need to get them.
             try:
-                remote_auth_chain = yield self.replication_layer.get_event_auth(
+                remote_auth_chain = yield self.federation_client.get_event_auth(
                     origin, event.room_id, event.event_id
                 )
 
@@ -1893,7 +1893,7 @@ class FederationHandler(BaseHandler):
 
                 try:
                     # 2. Get remote difference.
-                    result = yield self.replication_layer.query_auth(
+                    result = yield self.federation_client.query_auth(
                         origin,
                         event.room_id,
                         event.event_id,
@@ -2192,7 +2192,7 @@ class FederationHandler(BaseHandler):
             yield member_handler.send_membership_event(None, event, context)
         else:
             destinations = set(x.split(":", 1)[-1] for x in (sender_user_id, room_id))
-            yield self.replication_layer.forward_third_party_invite(
+            yield self.federation_client.forward_third_party_invite(
                 destinations,
                 room_id,
                 event_dict,