diff --git a/roomserver/storage/shared/storage.go b/roomserver/storage/shared/storage.go
index f49536f4..d4c5ebb5 100644
--- a/roomserver/storage/shared/storage.go
+++ b/roomserver/storage/shared/storage.go
@@ -842,9 +842,13 @@ func (d *Database) GetStateEvent(ctx context.Context, roomID, evType, stateKey s
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	if roomInfo == nil || roomInfo.IsStub {
+	if roomInfo == nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("room %s doesn't exist", roomID)
 	}
+	// e.g invited rooms
+	if roomInfo.IsStub {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
 	eventTypeNID, err := d.EventTypesTable.SelectEventTypeNID(ctx, nil, evType)
 	if err == sql.ErrNoRows {
 		// No rooms have an event of this type, otherwise we'd have an event type NID