diff --git a/synapse/handlers/presence.py b/synapse/handlers/presence.py
index f0d7b34682..e8cb83eddb 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/presence.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/presence.py
@@ -155,7 +155,10 @@ class PresenceHandler(BaseHandler):
         if allowed_by_subscription:
             defer.returnValue(True)
 
-        # TODO(paul): Check same channel
+        rm_handler = self.homeserver.get_handlers().room_member_handler
+        for room_id in (yield rm_handler.get_rooms_for_user(observer_user)):
+            if observed_user in (yield rm_handler.get_room_members(room_id)):
+                defer.returnValue(True)
 
         defer.returnValue(False)
 
@@ -166,16 +169,11 @@ class PresenceHandler(BaseHandler):
                 observed_user=target_user
             )
 
-            if visible or True: # XXX: FIXME: Bodge to unbreak matrix.org. breaks UTs.
+            if visible:
                 state = yield self.store.get_presence_state(
                     target_user.localpart
                 )
             else:
-                # FIXME: *Surely* we shouldn't be 404ing the whole request, whatever
-                # it is, just because presence info isn't visible?!
-                # This causes client/api/v1/rooms/!cURbafjkfsMDVwdRDQ%3Amatrix.org/members/list
-                # to 404 currently
-
                 raise SynapseError(404, "Presence information not visible")
         else:
             # TODO(paul): Have remote server send us permissions set
diff --git a/synapse/rest/events.py b/synapse/rest/events.py
index dc811b813a..ca2f6978e5 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/events.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/events.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ from synapse.rest.base import RestServlet, client_path_pattern
 class EventStreamRestServlet(RestServlet):
     PATTERN = client_path_pattern("/events$")
 
-    DEFAULT_LONGPOLL_TIME_MS = 5000
+    DEFAULT_LONGPOLL_TIME_MS = 30000
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def on_GET(self, request):
diff --git a/synapse/rest/room.py b/synapse/rest/room.py
index fe0953c69d..dfb2aabe70 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/room.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/room.py
@@ -353,10 +353,14 @@ class RoomMemberListRestServlet(RestServlet):
 
         for event in members["chunk"]:
             target_user = self.hs.parse_userid(event["target_user_id"])
-            presence_state = yield self.handlers.presence_handler.get_state(
-                target_user=target_user, auth_user=user
-            )
-            event["content"].update(presence_state)
+            # Presence is an optional cache; don't fail if we can't fetch it
+            try:
+                presence_state = yield self.handlers.presence_handler.get_state(
+                    target_user=target_user, auth_user=user
+                )
+                event["content"].update(presence_state)
+            except:
+                pass
 
         defer.returnValue((200, members))
 
diff --git a/tests/handlers/test_presence.py b/tests/handlers/test_presence.py
index 61c2547af4..86bd8bb3f2 100644
--- a/tests/handlers/test_presence.py
+++ b/tests/handlers/test_presence.py
@@ -80,6 +80,14 @@ class PresenceStateTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
             return defer.succeed(allow)
         self.datastore.is_presence_visible = is_presence_visible
 
+        # Mock the RoomMemberHandler
+        room_member_handler = Mock(spec=[
+            "get_rooms_for_user",
+            "get_room_members",
+        ])
+        hs.handlers.room_member_handler = room_member_handler
+        logging.getLogger().debug("Mocking room_member_handler=%r", room_member_handler)
+
         # Some local users to test with
         self.u_apple = hs.parse_userid("@apple:test")
         self.u_banana = hs.parse_userid("@banana:test")
@@ -87,11 +95,21 @@ class PresenceStateTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
 
         self.handler = hs.get_handlers().presence_handler
 
-        hs.handlers.room_member_handler = Mock(spec=[
-            "get_rooms_for_user",
-        ])
-        hs.handlers.room_member_handler.get_rooms_for_user = (
-                lambda u: defer.succeed([]))
+        self.room_members = []
+
+        def get_rooms_for_user(user):
+            if user in self.room_members:
+                return defer.succeed(["a-room"])
+            else:
+                return defer.succeed([])
+        room_member_handler.get_rooms_for_user = get_rooms_for_user
+
+        def get_room_members(room_id):
+            if room_id == "a-room":
+                return defer.succeed(self.room_members)
+            else:
+                return defer.succeed([])
+        room_member_handler.get_room_members = get_room_members
 
         self.mock_start = Mock()
         self.mock_stop = Mock()
@@ -131,6 +149,21 @@ class PresenceStateTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         )
         mocked_get.assert_called_with("apple")
 
+    @defer.inlineCallbacks
+    def test_get_same_room_state(self):
+        mocked_get = self.datastore.get_presence_state
+        mocked_get.return_value = defer.succeed(
+            {"state": ONLINE, "status_msg": "Online"}
+        )
+
+        self.room_members = [self.u_apple, self.u_clementine]
+
+        state = yield self.handler.get_state(
+            target_user=self.u_apple, auth_user=self.u_clementine
+        )
+
+        self.assertEquals({"state": ONLINE, "status_msg": "Online"}, state)
+
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def test_get_disallowed_state(self):
         mocked_get = self.datastore.get_presence_state
@@ -138,6 +171,8 @@ class PresenceStateTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
             {"state": ONLINE, "status_msg": "Online"}
         )
 
+        self.room_members = []
+
         yield self.assertFailure(
             self.handler.get_state(
                 target_user=self.u_apple, auth_user=self.u_clementine
diff --git a/webclient/components/matrix/event-stream-service.js b/webclient/components/matrix/event-stream-service.js
index 9f678e8454..c94cf0fe72 100644
--- a/webclient/components/matrix/event-stream-service.js
+++ b/webclient/components/matrix/event-stream-service.js
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ angular.module('eventStreamService', [])
 .factory('eventStreamService', ['$q', '$timeout', 'matrixService', 'eventHandlerService', function($q, $timeout, matrixService, eventHandlerService) {
     var END = "END";
     var START = "START";
-    var TIMEOUT_MS = 5000;
+    var TIMEOUT_MS = 30000;
     var ERR_TIMEOUT_MS = 5000;
     
     var settings = {