diff --git a/changelog.d/16521.misc b/changelog.d/16521.misc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..c6a8ddcf9c09aa00184ce4dcdcc016988327cd7d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/16521.misc
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Stop deleting from an unused table.
diff --git a/synapse/storage/databases/main/events_worker.py b/synapse/storage/databases/main/events_worker.py
index 8af638d60f3c7e9a5ba6b016ed2602d021004a59..5bf864c1fb27f7b5a8260bdc77b6f281c8cad6eb 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/databases/main/events_worker.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/databases/main/events_worker.py
@@ -2095,12 +2095,6 @@ class EventsWorkerStore(SQLBaseStore):
 
         def _cleanup_old_transaction_ids_txn(txn: LoggingTransaction) -> None:
             one_day_ago = self._clock.time_msec() - 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000
-            sql = """
-                DELETE FROM event_txn_id
-                WHERE inserted_ts < ?
-            """
-            txn.execute(sql, (one_day_ago,))
-
             sql = """
                 DELETE FROM event_txn_id_device_id
                 WHERE inserted_ts < ?
diff --git a/synapse/storage/schema/__init__.py b/synapse/storage/schema/__init__.py
index 5b50bd66bcb3a9b72df04c10c1a0841ecd1a9dca..158b528dce18c0eb67da2604ce7b5514bedc57f1 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/schema/__init__.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/schema/__init__.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-SCHEMA_VERSION = 82  # remember to update the list below when updating
+SCHEMA_VERSION = 83  # remember to update the list below when updating
 """Represents the expectations made by the codebase about the database schema
 
 This should be incremented whenever the codebase changes its requirements on the
@@ -121,6 +121,9 @@ Changes in SCHEMA_VERSION = 81
 Changes in SCHEMA_VERSION = 82
     - The insertion_events, insertion_event_extremities, insertion_event_edges, and
       batch_events tables are no longer purged in preparation for their removal.
+
+Changes in SCHEMA_VERSION = 83
+    - The event_txn_id is no longer used.
 """