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

index b45eafbb49..87f74dfb8e 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/profile.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/profile.py
@@ -13,28 +13,19 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
+import logging
+
 from twisted.internet import defer
 
+import synapse.types
 from synapse.api.errors import SynapseError, AuthError, CodeMessageException
-from synapse.types import UserID, Requester
-from synapse.util import unwrapFirstError
-
+from synapse.types import UserID
 from ._base import BaseHandler
 
-import logging
-
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
-def changed_presencelike_data(distributor, user, state):
-    return distributor.fire("changed_presencelike_data", user, state)
-
-
-def collect_presencelike_data(distributor, user, content):
-    return distributor.fire("collect_presencelike_data", user, content)
-
-
 class ProfileHandler(BaseHandler):
 
     def __init__(self, hs):
@@ -45,21 +36,6 @@ class ProfileHandler(BaseHandler):
             "profile", self.on_profile_query
         )
 
-        distributor = hs.get_distributor()
-        self.distributor = distributor
-
-        distributor.declare("collect_presencelike_data")
-        distributor.declare("changed_presencelike_data")
-
-        distributor.observe("registered_user", self.registered_user)
-
-        distributor.observe(
-            "collect_presencelike_data", self.collect_presencelike_data
-        )
-
-    def registered_user(self, user):
-        return self.store.create_profile(user.localpart)
-
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def get_displayname(self, target_user):
         if self.hs.is_mine(target_user):
@@ -89,13 +65,13 @@ class ProfileHandler(BaseHandler):
                 defer.returnValue(result["displayname"])
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
-    def set_displayname(self, target_user, requester, new_displayname):
+    def set_displayname(self, target_user, requester, new_displayname, by_admin=False):
         """target_user is the user whose displayname is to be changed;
         auth_user is the user attempting to make this change."""
         if not self.hs.is_mine(target_user):
             raise SynapseError(400, "User is not hosted on this Home Server")
 
-        if target_user != requester.user:
+        if not by_admin and target_user != requester.user:
             raise AuthError(400, "Cannot set another user's displayname")
 
         if new_displayname == '':
@@ -105,10 +81,6 @@ class ProfileHandler(BaseHandler):
             target_user.localpart, new_displayname
         )
 
-        yield changed_presencelike_data(self.distributor, target_user, {
-            "displayname": new_displayname,
-        })
-
         yield self._update_join_states(requester)
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
@@ -139,44 +111,22 @@ class ProfileHandler(BaseHandler):
             defer.returnValue(result["avatar_url"])
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
-    def set_avatar_url(self, target_user, requester, new_avatar_url):
+    def set_avatar_url(self, target_user, requester, new_avatar_url, by_admin=False):
         """target_user is the user whose avatar_url is to be changed;
         auth_user is the user attempting to make this change."""
         if not self.hs.is_mine(target_user):
             raise SynapseError(400, "User is not hosted on this Home Server")
 
-        if target_user != requester.user:
+        if not by_admin and target_user != requester.user:
             raise AuthError(400, "Cannot set another user's avatar_url")
 
         yield self.store.set_profile_avatar_url(
             target_user.localpart, new_avatar_url
         )
 
-        yield changed_presencelike_data(self.distributor, target_user, {
-            "avatar_url": new_avatar_url,
-        })
-
         yield self._update_join_states(requester)
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
-    def collect_presencelike_data(self, user, state):
-        if not self.hs.is_mine(user):
-            defer.returnValue(None)
-
-        (displayname, avatar_url) = yield defer.gatherResults(
-            [
-                self.store.get_profile_displayname(user.localpart),
-                self.store.get_profile_avatar_url(user.localpart),
-            ],
-            consumeErrors=True
-        ).addErrback(unwrapFirstError)
-
-        state["displayname"] = displayname
-        state["avatar_url"] = avatar_url
-
-        defer.returnValue(None)
-
-    @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def on_profile_query(self, args):
         user = UserID.from_string(args["user_id"])
         if not self.hs.is_mine(user):
@@ -215,7 +165,9 @@ class ProfileHandler(BaseHandler):
             try:
                 # Assume the user isn't a guest because we don't let guests set
                 # profile or avatar data.
-                requester = Requester(user, "", False)
+                # XXX why are we recreating `requester` here for each room?
+                # what was wrong with the `requester` we were passed?
+                requester = synapse.types.create_requester(user)
                 yield handler.update_membership(
                     requester,
                     user,