diff --git a/synapse/handlers/register.py b/synapse/handlers/register.py

index bb7cfd71b9..4631fab94e 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/register.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/register.py
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ class RegistrationHandler(BaseHandler):
             # Bind email to new account
             yield self._register_email_threepid(user_id, threepid_dict, None, False)
 
-        defer.returnValue(user_id)
+        return user_id
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def _auto_join_rooms(self, user_id):
@@ -360,7 +360,7 @@ class RegistrationHandler(BaseHandler):
             appservice_id=service_id,
             create_profile_with_displayname=user.localpart,
         )
-        defer.returnValue(user_id)
+        return user_id
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def check_recaptcha(self, ip, private_key, challenge, response):
@@ -461,7 +461,7 @@ class RegistrationHandler(BaseHandler):
 
         id = self._next_generated_user_id
         self._next_generated_user_id += 1
-        defer.returnValue(str(id))
+        return str(id)
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def _validate_captcha(self, ip_addr, private_key, challenge, response):
@@ -481,7 +481,7 @@ class RegistrationHandler(BaseHandler):
             "error_url": "http://www.recaptcha.net/recaptcha/api/challenge?"
             + "error=%s" % lines[1],
         }
-        defer.returnValue(json)
+        return json
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def _submit_captcha(self, ip_addr, private_key, challenge, response):
@@ -497,7 +497,7 @@ class RegistrationHandler(BaseHandler):
                 "response": response,
             },
         )
-        defer.returnValue(data)
+        return data
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def _join_user_to_room(self, requester, room_identifier):
@@ -622,7 +622,7 @@ class RegistrationHandler(BaseHandler):
                 initial_display_name=initial_display_name,
                 is_guest=is_guest,
             )
-            defer.returnValue((r["device_id"], r["access_token"]))
+            return (r["device_id"], r["access_token"])
 
         valid_until_ms = None
         if self.session_lifetime is not None:
@@ -645,7 +645,7 @@ class RegistrationHandler(BaseHandler):
                 user_id, device_id=device_id, valid_until_ms=valid_until_ms
             )
 
-        defer.returnValue((device_id, access_token))
+        return (device_id, access_token)
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def post_registration_actions(
@@ -798,7 +798,7 @@ class RegistrationHandler(BaseHandler):
             if ex.errcode == Codes.MISSING_PARAM:
                 # This will only happen if the ID server returns a malformed response
                 logger.info("Can't add incomplete 3pid")
-                defer.returnValue(None)
+                return None
             raise
 
         yield self._auth_handler.add_threepid(