diff --git a/lib/sync.js b/lib/sync.js
index 80bf36aa3..7d4ab4d5a 100644
--- a/lib/sync.js
+++ b/lib/sync.js
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ function debuglog() {
 function SyncApi(client, opts) {
     this.client = client;
     opts = opts || {};
-    opts.initialSyncLimit = opts.initialSyncLimit || 8;
+    opts.initialSyncLimit = (opts.initialSyncLimit === undefined ? 8 : opts.initialSyncLimit);
     opts.resolveInvitesToProfiles = opts.resolveInvitesToProfiles || false;
     opts.pollTimeout = opts.pollTimeout || (30 * 1000);
     opts.pendingEventOrdering = opts.pendingEventOrdering || "chronological";