diff --git a/synapse/federation/federation_client.py b/synapse/federation/federation_client.py
index 75b6a7b46aa9..f131941f451a 100644
--- a/synapse/federation/federation_client.py
+++ b/synapse/federation/federation_client.py
@@ -544,19 +544,13 @@ def random_server_list():
                 for e_id, depth in ordered_missing[:limit - len(signed_events)]
             ]
 
-            got_a_new_event = False
-
             res = yield defer.DeferredList(deferreds, consumeErrors=True)
             for (result, val), (e_id, _) in zip(res, ordered_missing):
                 if result:
                     signed_events.append(val)
-                    got_a_new_event = True
                 else:
                     failed_to_fetch.add(e_id)
 
-            if not got_a_new_event:
-                break
-
         defer.returnValue(signed_events)
 
     def event_from_pdu_json(self, pdu_json, outlier=False):