diff --git a/synapse/storage/databases/main/search.py b/synapse/storage/databases/main/search.py

index e34fce6281..871af64b11 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/databases/main/search.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/databases/main/search.py
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ class SearchWorkerStore(SQLBaseStore):
                 for entry in entries
             )
 
-            txn.executemany(sql, args)
+            txn.execute_batch(sql, args)
 
         elif isinstance(self.database_engine, Sqlite3Engine):
             sql = (
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ class SearchWorkerStore(SQLBaseStore):
                 for entry in entries
             )
 
-            txn.executemany(sql, args)
+            txn.execute_batch(sql, args)
         else:
             # This should be unreachable.
             raise Exception("Unrecognized database engine")