diff --git a/lib/sync.js b/lib/sync.js
index 7f7171613..e670e3702 100644
--- a/lib/sync.js
+++ b/lib/sync.js
@@ -562,14 +562,9 @@ SyncApi.prototype._sync = function(syncOptions, attempt) {
  */
 SyncApi.prototype._pokeKeepAlive = function() {
     return this.client._http.requestWithPrefix(
-        undefined, "GET", "/", undefined,
-        undefined, httpApi.PREFIX_R0, 5 * 1000
-    ).catch(function(err) {
-        if (err.httpStatus > 0) { // we hit the server alright
-            return q();
-        }
-        throw err;
-    });
+        undefined, "GET", "/_matrix/client/versions", undefined,
+        undefined, "", 5 * 1000
+    );
 };
 
 /**
diff --git a/spec/unit/matrix-client.spec.js b/spec/unit/matrix-client.spec.js
index 076a4297b..b9f33aae9 100644
--- a/spec/unit/matrix-client.spec.js
+++ b/spec/unit/matrix-client.spec.js
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ describe("MatrixClient", function() {
     var identityServerDomain = "identity.server";
     var client, store, scheduler;
 
-    var KEEP_ALIVE_PATH = "/";
+    var KEEP_ALIVE_PATH = "/_matrix/client/versions";
 
     var PUSH_RULES_RESPONSE = {
         method: "GET",