diff --git a/synapse/handlers/initial_sync.py b/synapse/handlers/initial_sync.py
index 2a81c11f10..10f5f35a69 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/initial_sync.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/initial_sync.py
@@ -372,7 +372,6 @@ class InitialSyncHandler(BaseHandler):
 
         @defer.inlineCallbacks
         def get_presence():
-            defer.returnValue([])
             states = yield presence_handler.get_states(
                 [m.user_id for m in room_members],
                 as_event=True,
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/presence.py b/synapse/handlers/presence.py
index 11e7dea94c..839d5feb78 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/presence.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/presence.py
@@ -372,7 +372,6 @@ class PresenceHandler(object):
         """We've seen the user do something that indicates they're interacting
         with the app.
         """
-        return
         user_id = user.to_string()
 
         bump_active_time_counter.inc()
@@ -402,7 +401,6 @@ class PresenceHandler(object):
                 Useful for streams that are not associated with an actual
                 client that is being used by a user.
         """
-        affect_presence = False
         if affect_presence:
             curr_sync = self.user_to_num_current_syncs.get(user_id, 0)
             self.user_to_num_current_syncs[user_id] = curr_sync + 1
@@ -464,8 +462,6 @@ class PresenceHandler(object):
             syncing_user_ids(set(str)): The set of user_ids that are
                 currently syncing on that server.
         """
-        return
-
         # Grab the previous list of user_ids that were syncing on that process
         prev_syncing_user_ids = (
             self.external_process_to_current_syncs.get(process_id, set())
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/sync.py b/synapse/handlers/sync.py
index a1264925af..c0205da1a9 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/sync.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/sync.py
@@ -539,7 +539,7 @@ class SyncHandler(object):
             since_token is None and
             sync_config.filter_collection.blocks_all_presence()
         )
-        if False or not block_all_presence_data:
+        if not block_all_presence_data:
             yield self._generate_sync_entry_for_presence(
                 sync_result_builder, newly_joined_rooms, newly_joined_users
             )