diff --git a/spec/integ/matrix-client-methods.spec.ts b/spec/integ/matrix-client-methods.spec.ts
index da417b8c2..48dcccba9 100644
--- a/spec/integ/matrix-client-methods.spec.ts
+++ b/spec/integ/matrix-client-methods.spec.ts
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import { IFilterDefinition } from "../../src/filter";
 import { ISearchResults } from "../../src/@types/search";
 import { IStore } from "../../src/store";
 import { CryptoBackend } from "../../src/common-crypto/CryptoBackend";
+import { SetPresence } from "../../src/sync";
 
 describe("MatrixClient", function () {
     const userId = "@alice:localhost";
@@ -1516,6 +1517,16 @@ describe("MatrixClient", function () {
             expect(mockBackend.setTrustCrossSignedDevices).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith(false);
         });
     });
+
+    describe("setSyncPresence", () => {
+        it("should pass calls through to the underlying sync api", () => {
+            const setPresence = jest.fn();
+            // @ts-ignore
+            client.syncApi = { setPresence };
+            client?.setSyncPresence(SetPresence.Unavailable);
+            expect(setPresence).toHaveBeenCalledWith(SetPresence.Unavailable);
+        });
+    });
 });
 
 function withThreadId(event: MatrixEvent, newThreadId: string): MatrixEvent {
diff --git a/src/client.ts b/src/client.ts
index 9d9e1d3aa..601a2746c 100644
--- a/src/client.ts
+++ b/src/client.ts
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ limitations under the License.
 import { Optional } from "matrix-events-sdk";
 
 import type { IDeviceKeys, IMegolmSessionData, IOneTimeKey } from "./@types/crypto";
-import { ISyncStateData, SyncApi, SyncApiOptions, SyncState } from "./sync";
+import { ISyncStateData, SetPresence, SyncApi, SyncApiOptions, SyncState } from "./sync";
 import {
     EventStatus,
     IContent,
@@ -5531,6 +5531,16 @@ export class MatrixClient extends TypedEventEmitter<EmittedEvents, ClientEventHa
         return getHttpUriForMxc(this.baseUrl, mxcUrl, width, height, resizeMethod, allowDirectLinks);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Specify the set_presence value to be used for subsequent calls to the Sync API.
+     * This has an advantage over calls to the PUT /presence API in that it
+     * doesn't clobber status_msg set by other devices.
+     * @param presence - the presence to specify to set_presence of sync calls
+     */
+    public async setSyncPresence(presence?: SetPresence): Promise<void> {
+        this.syncApi?.setPresence(presence);
+    }
+
     /**
      * @param opts - Options to apply
      * @returns Promise which resolves
diff --git a/src/sliding-sync-sdk.ts b/src/sliding-sync-sdk.ts
index 36eed5d73..780144222 100644
--- a/src/sliding-sync-sdk.ts
+++ b/src/sliding-sync-sdk.ts
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import {
     SyncApiOptions,
     defaultClientOpts,
     defaultSyncApiOpts,
+    SetPresence,
 } from "./sync";
 import { MatrixEvent } from "./models/event";
 import { Crypto } from "./crypto";
@@ -463,6 +464,14 @@ export class SlidingSyncSdk {
         // TODO
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Specify the set_presence value to be used for subsequent calls to the Sync API.
+     * @param presence - the presence to specify to set_presence of sync calls
+     */
+    public setPresence(presence?: SetPresence): void {
+        // TODO not possible in sliding sync yet
+    }
+
     /**
      * Returns the current state of this sync object
      * @see MatrixClient#event:"sync"
diff --git a/src/sync.ts b/src/sync.ts
index 1e80ac76c..49bddc045 100644
--- a/src/sync.ts
+++ b/src/sync.ts
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ export interface ISyncStateData {
     fromCache?: boolean;
 }
 
-enum SetPresence {
+export enum SetPresence {
     Offline = "offline",
     Online = "online",
     Unavailable = "unavailable",
@@ -225,6 +225,7 @@ export class SyncApi {
     private notifEvents: MatrixEvent[] = []; // accumulator of sync events in the current sync response
     private failedSyncCount = 0; // Number of consecutive failed /sync requests
     private storeIsInvalid = false; // flag set if the store needs to be cleared before we can start
+    private presence?: SetPresence;
 
     /**
      * Construct an entity which is able to sync with a homeserver.
@@ -1009,6 +1010,8 @@ export class SyncApi {
 
         if (this.opts.disablePresence) {
             qps.set_presence = SetPresence.Offline;
+        } else if (this.presence !== undefined) {
+            qps.set_presence = this.presence;
         }
 
         if (syncToken) {
@@ -1031,6 +1034,14 @@ export class SyncApi {
         return qps;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Specify the set_presence value to be used for subsequent calls to the Sync API.
+     * @param presence - the presence to specify to set_presence of sync calls
+     */
+    public setPresence(presence?: SetPresence): void {
+        this.presence = presence;
+    }
+
     private async onSyncError(err: MatrixError): Promise<boolean> {
         if (!this.running) {
             debuglog("Sync no longer running: exiting");