diff --git a/synapse/storage/__init__.py b/synapse/storage/__init__.py
index 95ae97d507..2ed505cb1e 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/__init__.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/__init__.py
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ class DataStore(RoomMemberStore, RoomStore,
 
     def __init__(self, db_conn, hs):
         self.hs = hs
+        self.database_engine = hs.database_engine
 
         cur = db_conn.cursor()
         try:
@@ -157,6 +158,8 @@ class DataStore(RoomMemberStore, RoomStore,
             "stream": stream_column,
         }
 
+        sql = self.database_engine.convert_param_style(sql)
+
         txn = db_conn.cursor()
         txn.execute(sql, (int(max_value),))
         rows = txn.fetchall()