diff --git a/synapse/util/caches/stream_change_cache.py b/synapse/util/caches/stream_change_cache.py
index b723e33641af4f56c11db2a4688fcd18b0b9490e..609625b3229656e07cc2b148be2bae7d2d76d2b4 100644
--- a/synapse/util/caches/stream_change_cache.py
+++ b/synapse/util/caches/stream_change_cache.py
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ class StreamChangeCache(object):
             keys = self._cache.keys()
             i = keys.bisect_right(stream_pos)
 
-            return len(keys[i:]) > 0
+            return i < len(keys)
         else:
             self.metrics.inc_misses()
             return True