2 files changed, 9 insertions, 5 deletions
diff --git a/synapse/events/__init__.py b/synapse/events/__init__.py
index badeb903fc..1edd19cc13 100644
--- a/synapse/events/__init__.py
+++ b/synapse/events/__init__.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import six
 
 from unpaddedbase64 import encode_base64
 
+from synapse.api.errors import UnsupportedRoomVersionError
 from synapse.api.room_versions import KNOWN_ROOM_VERSIONS, EventFormatVersions
 from synapse.util.caches import intern_dict
 from synapse.util.frozenutils import freeze
@@ -369,12 +370,15 @@ def room_version_to_event_format(room_version):
 
     Returns:
         int
+
+    Raises:
+        UnsupportedRoomVersionError if the room version is unknown
     """
     v = KNOWN_ROOM_VERSIONS.get(room_version)
 
     if not v:
-        # We should have already checked version, so this should not happen
-        raise RuntimeError("Unrecognized room version %s" % (room_version,))
+        # this can happen if support is withdrawn for a room version
+        raise UnsupportedRoomVersionError()
 
     return v.event_format
 
diff --git a/synapse/events/builder.py b/synapse/events/builder.py
index fba27177c7..1fe995f212 100644
--- a/synapse/events/builder.py
+++ b/synapse/events/builder.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import attr
 from twisted.internet import defer
 
 from synapse.api.constants import MAX_DEPTH
+from synapse.api.errors import UnsupportedRoomVersionError
 from synapse.api.room_versions import (
     KNOWN_EVENT_FORMAT_VERSIONS,
     KNOWN_ROOM_VERSIONS,
@@ -178,9 +179,8 @@ class EventBuilderFactory(object):
         """
         v = KNOWN_ROOM_VERSIONS.get(room_version)
         if not v:
-            raise Exception(
-                "No event format defined for version %r" % (room_version,)
-            )
+            # this can happen if support is withdrawn for a room version
+            raise UnsupportedRoomVersionError()
         return self.for_room_version(v, key_values)
 
     def for_room_version(self, room_version, key_values):