diff --git a/changelog.d/14515.misc b/changelog.d/14515.misc
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..a0effb4dbeea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/14515.misc
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Faster joins: use servers list approximation received during `send_join` (potentially updated with received membership events) in `assert_host_in_room`.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/event_auth.py b/synapse/handlers/event_auth.py
index 3bbad0271bcc..f91dbbecb79c 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/event_auth.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/event_auth.py
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ class EventAuthHandler:
     def __init__(self, hs: "HomeServer"):
         self._clock = hs.get_clock()
         self._store = hs.get_datastores().main
+        self._state_storage_controller = hs.get_storage_controllers().state
         self._server_name = hs.hostname
 
     async def check_auth_rules_from_context(
@@ -179,17 +180,22 @@ async def assert_host_in_room(
         this function may return an incorrect result as we are not able to fully
         track server membership in a room without full state.
         """
-        if not allow_partial_state_rooms and await self._store.is_partial_state_room(
-            room_id
-        ):
-            raise AuthError(
-                403,
-                "Unable to authorise you right now; room is partial-stated here.",
-                errcode=Codes.UNABLE_DUE_TO_PARTIAL_STATE,
-            )
-
-        if not await self.is_host_in_room(room_id, host):
-            raise AuthError(403, "Host not in room.")
+        if await self._store.is_partial_state_room(room_id):
+            if allow_partial_state_rooms:
+                current_hosts = await self._state_storage_controller.get_current_hosts_in_room_or_partial_state_approximation(
+                    room_id
+                )
+                if host not in current_hosts:
+                    raise AuthError(403, "Host not in room (partial-state approx).")
+            else:
+                raise AuthError(
+                    403,
+                    "Unable to authorise you right now; room is partial-stated here.",
+                    errcode=Codes.UNABLE_DUE_TO_PARTIAL_STATE,
+                )
+        else:
+            if not await self.is_host_in_room(room_id, host):
+                raise AuthError(403, "Host not in room.")
 
     async def check_restricted_join_rules(
         self,