diff --git a/synapse/storage/databases/main/state_deltas.py b/synapse/storage/databases/main/state_deltas.py
index 188afec332dd..445213e12aaf 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/databases/main/state_deltas.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/databases/main/state_deltas.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ class StateDeltasStore(SQLBaseStore):
     # attribute. TODO: can we get static analysis to enforce this?
     _curr_state_delta_stream_cache: StreamChangeCache
 
-    async def get_current_state_deltas(
+    async def get_partial_current_state_deltas(
         self, prev_stream_id: int, max_stream_id: int
     ) -> Tuple[int, List[Dict[str, Any]]]:
         """Fetch a list of room state changes since the given stream id
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ async def get_current_state_deltas(
             - prev_event_id (str|None): previous event_id for this state key. None
                 if it's new state.
 
+        This may be the partial state if we're lazy joining the room.
+
         Args:
             prev_stream_id: point to get changes since (exclusive)
             max_stream_id: the point that we know has been correctly persisted
diff --git a/synapse/storage/state.py b/synapse/storage/state.py
index 4b6ee9b39f30..516de7231c4d 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/state.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/state.py
@@ -985,6 +985,6 @@ async def get_current_state_deltas(
                - list of current_state_delta_stream rows. If it is empty, we are
                  up to date.
         """
-        return await self.stores.main.get_current_state_deltas(
+        return await self.stores.main.get_partial_current_state_deltas(
             prev_stream_id, max_stream_id
         )
diff --git a/tests/handlers/test_typing.py b/tests/handlers/test_typing.py
index 5f2e26a5fce7..c7d9cf7930d0 100644
--- a/tests/handlers/test_typing.py
+++ b/tests/handlers/test_typing.py
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ async def get_users_in_room(room_id: str):
             )
         )
 
-        self.datastore.get_current_state_deltas = Mock(return_value=(0, None))
+        self.datastore.get_partial_current_state_deltas = Mock(return_value=(0, None))
 
         self.datastore.get_to_device_stream_token = lambda: 0
         self.datastore.get_new_device_msgs_for_remote = (