diff --git a/lib/models/room.js b/lib/models/room.js
index 9ece7cae1..f0d9baeb0 100644
--- a/lib/models/room.js
+++ b/lib/models/room.js
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ function Room(roomId, opts) {
 utils.inherits(Room, EventEmitter);
 
 /**
- * Get one of the notification counst for this room
+ * Get one of the notification counts for this room
  * @param {String} type The type of notification count to get. default: 'total'
  * @return {Number} The notification count, or undefined if there is no count
  *                  for this type.
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ Room.prototype.getUnreadNotificationCount = function(type) {
 };
 
 /**
- * Set one of the notification counst for this room
+ * Set one of the notification counts for this room
  * @param {String} type The type of notification count to set.
  * @param {Number} type The new count
  */
diff --git a/lib/sync.js b/lib/sync.js
index 0aa842f94..4816a03d3 100644
--- a/lib/sync.js
+++ b/lib/sync.js
@@ -469,7 +469,6 @@ SyncApi.prototype._sync = function(syncOptions, attempt) {
                 var accountDataEvents = self._mapSyncEventsFormat(joinObj.account_data);
 
                 // we do this first so it's correct when any of the events fire
-                room.unread_notifications = joinObj.unread_notifications || {};
                 if (joinObj.unread_notifications) {
                     room.setUnreadNotificationCount(
                         'total', joinObj.unread_notifications.notification_count