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

index e9b1646e0e..f44adfc07b 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/stats.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/stats.py
@@ -91,31 +91,31 @@ class StatsHandler(StateDeltasHandler):
             return None
 
         # Loop round handling deltas until we're up to date
-        with Measure(self.clock, "stats_delta"):
-            while True:
+
+        while True:
+            with Measure(self.clock, "stats_delta"):
                 deltas = yield self.store.get_current_state_deltas(
                     self.pos["state_delta_stream_id"]
                 )
-                if not deltas:
-                    break
 
                 logger.debug("Handling %d state deltas", len(deltas))
                 yield self._handle_deltas(deltas)
 
                 self.pos["state_delta_stream_id"] = deltas[-1]["stream_id"]
+                yield self.store.update_stats_positions(self.pos)
 
                 event_processing_positions.labels("stats").set(
                     self.pos["state_delta_stream_id"]
                 )
 
-                if self.pos is not None:
-                    yield self.store.update_stats_positions(self.pos)
+            # Then count deltas for total_events and total_event_bytes.
+            with Measure(self.clock, "stats_total_events_and_bytes"):
+                self.pos, had_counts = yield self.store.incremental_update_room_total_events_and_bytes(
+                    self.pos
+                )
 
-        # Then count deltas for total_events and total_event_bytes.
-        with Measure(self.clock, "stats_total_events_and_bytes"):
-            self.pos = yield self.store.incremental_update_total_events_and_bytes(
-                self.pos
-            )
+            if not deltas and not had_counts:
+                break
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def _handle_deltas(self, deltas):
diff --git a/synapse/storage/stats.py b/synapse/storage/stats.py

index 8cfa694d31..9d6c3027d5 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/stats.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/stats.py
@@ -487,9 +487,12 @@ class StatsStore(StateDeltasStore):
             in_positions (dict): Positions,
                 as retrieved from L{get_stats_positions}.
 
-        Returns (dict):
-            The new positions. Note that this is for reference only –
-            the new positions WILL be committed by this function.
+        Returns (Deferred[tuple[dict, bool]]):
+            First element (dict):
+                The new positions. Note that this is for reference only –
+                the new positions WILL be committed by this function.
+            Second element (bool):
+                true iff there was a change to the positions, false otherwise
         """
 
         def incremental_update_total_events_and_bytes_txn(txn):
@@ -518,7 +521,9 @@ class StatsStore(StateDeltasStore):
 
                 self._update_stats_positions_txn(txn, positions)
 
-            return positions
+                return positions, True
+            else:
+                return positions, False
 
         return self.runInteraction(
             "stats_incremental_total_events_and_bytes",