diff --git a/lib/SyTest/Federation/Client.pm b/lib/SyTest/Federation/Client.pm
index e71c5a354..6f670ced8 100644
--- a/lib/SyTest/Federation/Client.pm
+++ b/lib/SyTest/Federation/Client.pm
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ use HTTP::Headers::Util qw( join_header_words );
 
 use SyTest::Assertions qw( :all );
 
+use URI::Escape qw( uri_escape );
+
 sub configure
 {
    my $self = shift;
@@ -30,10 +32,12 @@ sub _fetch_key
    my $self = shift;
    my ( $server_name, $key_id ) = @_;
 
+   my $key_id_encoded = uri_escape($key_id);
+
    $self->do_request_json(
       method   => "GET",
       hostname => $server_name,
-      full_uri => "/_matrix/key/v2/server/$key_id",
+      full_uri => "/_matrix/key/v2/server/$key_id_encoded",
    )->then( sub {
       my ( $body ) = @_;
 
diff --git a/lib/SyTest/Homeserver/Synapse.pm b/lib/SyTest/Homeserver/Synapse.pm
index 273bd0a9e..d53c7c150 100644
--- a/lib/SyTest/Homeserver/Synapse.pm
+++ b/lib/SyTest/Homeserver/Synapse.pm
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ use POSIX qw( strftime WIFEXITED WEXITSTATUS );
 
 use YAML ();
 
-use SyTest::SSL qw( ensure_ssl_cert );
+use SyTest::SSL qw( ensure_ssl_key create_ssl_cert );
 
 sub _init
 {
@@ -150,7 +150,8 @@ sub start
    $self->{paths}{cert_file} = "$hs_dir/tls.crt";
    $self->{paths}{key_file} = "$hs_dir/tls.key";
 
-   ensure_ssl_cert( $self->{paths}{cert_file}, $self->{paths}{key_file}, $bind_host );
+   ensure_ssl_key( $self->{paths}{key_file} );
+   create_ssl_cert( $self->{paths}{cert_file}, $self->{paths}{key_file}, $bind_host );
 
    my $config_path = $self->{paths}{config} = $self->write_yaml_file( "config.yaml" => {
         server_name => $self->server_name,
@@ -195,6 +196,13 @@ sub start
                 burst_count => 1000,
             }
         },
+
+        rc_federation => {
+           # allow 100 requests per sec instead of 10
+           sleep_limit => 100,
+           window_size => 1000,
+        },
+
         enable_registration => "true",
         database => \%synapse_db_config,
         macaroon_secret_key => $macaroon_secret_key,
diff --git a/lib/SyTest/Identity/Server.pm b/lib/SyTest/Identity/Server.pm
index 4fe8a9687..2300689d7 100644
--- a/lib/SyTest/Identity/Server.pm
+++ b/lib/SyTest/Identity/Server.pm
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ sub on_request
       $req->respond_json( \%resp );
    }
    elsif( $path eq "/_matrix/identity/api/v1/store-invite" ) {
-      my $body = $req->body_from_form;
+      my $body = $req->body_from_json;
       my $medium = $body->{medium};
       my $address = $body->{address};
       my $sender = $body->{sender};
diff --git a/lib/SyTest/SSL.pm b/lib/SyTest/SSL.pm
index da4339086..1d67a7152 100644
--- a/lib/SyTest/SSL.pm
+++ b/lib/SyTest/SSL.pm
@@ -17,42 +17,53 @@ package SyTest::SSL;
 
 use Exporter 'import';
 our @EXPORT_OK = qw(
-   ensure_ssl_cert
+   ensure_ssl_key
+   create_ssl_cert
 );
 
-=head2 ensure_ssl_cert
+=head2 ensure_ssl_key
 
-    ensure_ssl_cert( $cert_file, $key_file, $server_name );
+    ensure_ssl_key( $key_file );
 
-Ensure that an SSL certificate file and key file exist. If they do not,
-generate a key and/or certificate. The certificate will be signed by the test CA.
+Create an SSL key file, if it doesn't exist.
 
 =cut
 
-sub ensure_ssl_cert
+sub ensure_ssl_key
 {
-   my ( $cert_file, $key_file, $server_name ) = @_;
+   my ( $key_file ) = @_;
 
    if ( ! -e $key_file ) {
       # todo: we can do this in pure perl
       system("openssl", "genrsa", "-out", $key_file, "2048") == 0
          or die "openssl genrsa failed $?";
    }
+}
 
-   if ( ! -e $cert_file ) {
-      # generate a CSR
-      my $csr_file = "$cert_file.csr";
-      system(
-         "openssl", "req", "-new", "-key", $key_file, "-out", $csr_file,
-         "-subj", "/CN=$server_name",
-      ) == 0 or die "openssl req failed $?";
-
-      # sign it with the CA
-      system(
-         "openssl", "x509", "-req", "-in", $csr_file,
-         "-CA", "keys/ca.crt", "-CAkey", "keys/ca.key", "-set_serial", 1,
-         "-out", $cert_file,
-      ) == 0 or die "openssl x509 failed $?";
-   }
+=head2 create_ssl_cert
+
+    create_ssl_cert( $cert_file, $key_file, $server_name );
+
+Create a new SSL certificate file. The certificate will be signed by the test CA.
+
+=cut
+
+sub create_ssl_cert
+{
+   my ( $cert_file, $key_file, $server_name ) = @_;
+
+   # generate a CSR
+   my $csr_file = "$cert_file.csr";
+   system(
+      "openssl", "req", "-new", "-key", $key_file, "-out", $csr_file,
+      "-subj", "/CN=$server_name",
+   ) == 0 or die "openssl req failed $?";
+
+   # sign it with the CA
+   system(
+      "openssl", "x509", "-req", "-in", $csr_file,
+      "-CA", "keys/ca.crt", "-CAkey", "keys/ca.key", "-set_serial", 1,
+      "-out", $cert_file,
+   ) == 0 or die "openssl x509 failed $?";
 }
 
diff --git a/run-tests.pl b/run-tests.pl
index ec15c4801..ee1ccf1f2 100755
--- a/run-tests.pl
+++ b/run-tests.pl
@@ -55,8 +55,6 @@
 # and the like.
 our $TEST_RUN_ID = strftime( '%Y%m%d_%H%M%S', gmtime() );
 
-my %FIXED_BUGS;
-
 my $STOP_ON_FAIL;
 my $SERVER_IMPL = undef;
 
@@ -107,8 +105,6 @@
 
    'p|port-range=s' => \(my $PORT_RANGE = "8800:8899"),
 
-   'F|fixed=s' => sub { $FIXED_BUGS{$_}++ for split m/,/, $_[1] },
-
    'h|help' => sub { usage(0) },
 ) or usage(1);
 
@@ -175,9 +171,6 @@ sub usage
 
    -p, --port-range START:MAX   - pool of TCP ports to allocate from
 
-   -F, --fixed BUGS             - bug names that are expected to be fixed
-                                  (ignores 'bug' declarations with these names)
-
 .
    write STDERR;
 
@@ -583,10 +576,6 @@ sub _push_test
 {
    my ( $filename, $multi, $name, %params ) = @_;
 
-   # We expect this test to fail if it's declared to be dependent on a bug that
-   # is not yet fixed
-   $params{expect_fail}++ if $params{bug} and not $FIXED_BUGS{ $params{bug} };
-
    if( %only_files and not exists $only_files{$filename} ) {
       $proven{$_} = PRESUMED for @{ $params{proves} // [] };
       return;
diff --git a/tests/01http-server.pl b/tests/01http-server.pl
index d5fb80648..8edd4d490 100644
--- a/tests/01http-server.pl
+++ b/tests/01http-server.pl
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 use SyTest::HTTPClient;
 use SyTest::HTTPServer::Request;
-use SyTest::SSL qw( ensure_ssl_cert );
+use SyTest::SSL qw( ensure_ssl_key create_ssl_cert );
 
 my $DIR = dirname( __FILE__ );
 
@@ -35,7 +35,8 @@ sub start_test_server_ssl {
 
    my $ssl_cert = "$test_server_dir/server.crt";
    my $ssl_key = "$test_server_dir/server.key";
-   ensure_ssl_cert( $ssl_cert, $ssl_key, $BIND_HOST );
+   ensure_ssl_key( $ssl_key );
+   create_ssl_cert( $ssl_cert, $ssl_key, $BIND_HOST );
 
    return $server->listen(
       host          => $BIND_HOST,
diff --git a/tests/10apidoc/01register.pl b/tests/10apidoc/01register.pl
index 6e53e5f60..f98b7b83f 100644
--- a/tests/10apidoc/01register.pl
+++ b/tests/10apidoc/01register.pl
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ sub matrix_register_user
 
       return $f->then_done( $user )
          ->on_done( sub {
-            log_if_fail "Registered new user $uid";
+            log_if_fail "Registered new user ". $user->user_id;
          });
    });
 }
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ sub matrix_admin_register_user_via_secret
 
       return Future->done( $user )
         ->on_done( sub {
-           log_if_fail "Registered new user (via secret) $uid";
+           log_if_fail "Registered new user (via secret) " . $user->user_id;
         });
    });
 }
diff --git a/tests/30rooms/04messages.pl b/tests/30rooms/04messages.pl
index 3e2f37850..4e5ea04c8 100644
--- a/tests/30rooms/04messages.pl
+++ b/tests/30rooms/04messages.pl
@@ -154,9 +154,6 @@
    requires => [ $senduser_fixture, $remote_fixture, $room_fixture,
                 qw( can_receive_room_message_locally )],
 
-   # this test frequently times out for unknown reasons
-   bug => "synapse#1679",
-
    do => sub {
       my ( $senduser, $remote_user, $room_id ) = @_;
 
diff --git a/tests/30rooms/12thirdpartyinvite.pl b/tests/30rooms/12thirdpartyinvite.pl
index d580bb05a..421a5c7cb 100644
--- a/tests/30rooms/12thirdpartyinvite.pl
+++ b/tests/30rooms/12thirdpartyinvite.pl
@@ -366,28 +366,6 @@ sub can_invite_unbound_3pid
       })->followed_by( assert_membership( "join" ) );
    };
 
-test "Uses consistent guest_access_token across requests",
-   requires => [ local_user_and_room_fixtures(), local_user_and_room_fixtures(),
-                 $main::HOMESERVER_INFO[1], id_server_fixture() ],
-
-   do => sub {
-      my ( $inviter1, $room1, $inviter2, $room2, $info, $id_server ) = @_;
-      my $hs_uribase = $info->client_location;
-
-      Future->needs_all(
-         do_3pid_invite( $inviter1, $room1, $id_server->name, $invitee_email ),
-         do_3pid_invite( $inviter2, $room2, $id_server->name, $invitee_email ),
-      )->then( sub {
-         my $invites = $id_server->invites_for( "email", $invitee_email );
-
-         log_if_fail "invites", $invites;
-         assert_eq( scalar( @$invites ), 2, "Invite count" );
-         assert_eq( $invites->[0]{guest_access_token}, $invites->[1]{guest_access_token}, "guest_access_tokens" );
-
-         Future->done( 1 );
-      });
-   };
-
 test "3pid invite join with wrong but valid signature are rejected",
    requires => [ local_user_fixtures( 2 ), $main::HOMESERVER_INFO[0],
                     id_server_fixture() ],
diff --git a/tests/30rooms/13guestaccess.pl b/tests/30rooms/13guestaccess.pl
index 0a7704299..fbecb9486 100644
--- a/tests/30rooms/13guestaccess.pl
+++ b/tests/30rooms/13guestaccess.pl
@@ -489,8 +489,6 @@
 test "Guest users can accept invites to private rooms over federation",
    requires => [ remote_user_fixture(), guest_user_fixture() ],
 
-   bug => "synapse#2065",
-
    do => sub {
       my ( $remote_user, $local_guest ) = @_;
 
diff --git a/tests/30rooms/20typing.pl b/tests/30rooms/20typing.pl
index 64bad82bb..27b49eaa3 100644
--- a/tests/30rooms/20typing.pl
+++ b/tests/30rooms/20typing.pl
@@ -133,70 +133,3 @@ sub matrix_typing
          } $typinguser, $local_user );
       });
    };
-
-
-multi_test "Typing notifications timeout and can be resent",
-   requires => [ $typing_user_fixture, $room_fixture,
-                qw( can_set_room_typing )],
-
-   timeout => 100,
-
-   bug => "DISABLED",
-
-   do => sub {
-      my ( $user, $room_id ) = @_;
-
-      die "This test has been disabled due to synapse no longer supporting small typing timeouts.";
-
-      my $start_time = time();
-
-      flush_events_for( $user )->then( sub {
-         matrix_typing( $user, $room_id,
-            typing => 1,
-            timeout => 10000, # msec; i.e. very long
-         );
-      })->then( sub {
-         pass( "Sent typing notification" );
-
-         # start typing
-         await_event_for( $user, filter => sub {
-            my ( $event ) = @_;
-            return unless $event->{type} eq "m.typing";
-            return unless $event->{room_id} eq $room_id;
-
-            return unless scalar @{ $event->{content}{user_ids} };
-
-            pass( "Received start notification" );
-            return 1;
-         });
-      })->then( sub {
-         matrix_typing( $user, $room_id,
-            typing => 1,
-            timeout => 100, # msec; i.e. very short
-         );
-      })->then( sub {
-         # stop typing
-         await_event_for( $user, filter => sub {
-            my ( $event ) = @_;
-            return unless $event->{type} eq "m.typing";
-            return unless $event->{room_id} eq $room_id;
-
-            return if scalar @{ $event->{content}{user_ids} };
-
-            ( time() - $start_time ) < 0.5 or
-               die "Took too long to time out";
-
-            pass( "Received stop notification" );
-            return 1;
-         });
-      })->then( sub {
-         matrix_typing( $user, $room_id,
-            typing => 1,
-            timeout => 10000,
-         );
-      })->then( sub {
-         pass( "Sent second notification" );
-
-         Future->done(1);
-      });
-   };
diff --git a/tests/31sync/15lazy-members.pl b/tests/31sync/15lazy-members.pl
index 5844063e4..ec1145c97 100644
--- a/tests/31sync/15lazy-members.pl
+++ b/tests/31sync/15lazy-members.pl
@@ -202,8 +202,6 @@
    requires => [ local_user_fixtures( 4 ),
                  qw( can_sync ) ],
 
-   bug => "vector-im/riot-web#7211",
-
    check => sub {
       my ( $alice, $bob, $charlie, $dave ) = @_;
 
diff --git a/tests/40presence.pl b/tests/40presence.pl
index f1f165c66..d19dfc46a 100644
--- a/tests/40presence.pl
+++ b/tests/40presence.pl
@@ -124,9 +124,6 @@
    requires => [ local_user_fixture(),
                  qw( can_initial_sync )],
 
-   # this test fails sometimes. Disable it for now to avoid red-light fatigue.
-   bug => "synapse#1658",
-
    do => sub {
       my ( $user ) = @_;
 
diff --git a/tests/41end-to-end-keys/01-upload-key.pl b/tests/41end-to-end-keys/01-upload-key.pl
index c7460db3b..0efb5f7d1 100644
--- a/tests/41end-to-end-keys/01-upload-key.pl
+++ b/tests/41end-to-end-keys/01-upload-key.pl
@@ -38,8 +38,6 @@
 test "Should reject keys claiming to belong to a different user",
    requires => [ $fixture ],
 
-   bug => "synapse#1396",
-
    do => sub {
       my ( $user ) = @_;
 
diff --git a/tests/41end-to-end-keys/06-device-lists.pl b/tests/41end-to-end-keys/06-device-lists.pl
index 4c43cfd6e..86c6a14be 100644
--- a/tests/41end-to-end-keys/06-device-lists.pl
+++ b/tests/41end-to-end-keys/06-device-lists.pl
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ sub sync_until_user_in_device_list
    # my $trace = Devel::StackTrace->new(no_args => 1);
    # log_if_fail $trace->frame(1)->as_string();
 
-   $msg = "$msg: waiting for $wait_for_id in $device_list";
+   log_if_fail "$msg: waiting for $wait_for_id in $device_list";
 
    return repeat_until_true {
       matrix_sync_again( $syncing_user, timeout => 1000 )
@@ -34,11 +34,15 @@ sub sync_until_user_in_device_list
 
          log_if_fail "$msg: body", $body;
 
-         my $res = $body->{device_lists} &&
+         if(
+            $body->{device_lists} &&
             $body->{device_lists}{$device_list} &&
-            any { $_ eq $wait_for_id } @{ $body->{device_lists}{$device_list} };
-
-         Future->done( $res && $body );
+            any { $_ eq $wait_for_id } @{ $body->{device_lists}{$device_list} }
+         ) {
+            log_if_fail "$msg: found $wait_for_id in $device_list";
+            return Future->done( $body );
+         }
+         return Future->done(0);
       });
    };
 }
@@ -371,14 +375,18 @@ sub sync_until_user_in_device_list
       })->then( sub {
          matrix_set_device_display_name( $remote_leaver, $remote_leaver->device_id, "test display name" ),
       })->then( sub {
+         log_if_fail "Remote_leaver " . $remote_leaver->user_id . " set display name";
          sync_until_user_in_device_list( $creator, $remote_leaver );
       })->then( sub {
          matrix_leave_room_synced( $remote_leaver, $room_id )
       })->then( sub {
+         log_if_fail "Remote_leaver " . $remote_leaver->user_id . " left room";
          matrix_put_e2e_keys( $remote_leaver, device_keys => { updated => "keys" } )
       })->then( sub {
+         log_if_fail "Remote_leaver " . $remote_leaver->user_id . " updated keys";
          matrix_put_e2e_keys( $remote2, device_keys => { updated => "keys" } )
       })->then( sub {
+         log_if_fail "Remote user 2 " . $remote2->user_id . " updated keys";
          sync_until_user_in_device_list( $creator, $remote2 );
       })->then( sub {
          my ( $body ) = @_;
diff --git a/tests/50federation/30room-join.pl b/tests/50federation/30room-join.pl
index c59154018..a6bc56b9a 100644
--- a/tests/50federation/30room-join.pl
+++ b/tests/50federation/30room-join.pl
@@ -39,14 +39,11 @@ sub assert_is_valid_pdu {
    # for event types which are known to be state events, check that they
    # have the relevant keys
    if ( $STATE_EVENT_TYPES{ $event->{type} }) {
-      # XXX richvdh: I'm unconvinced prev_state is required here - I think
-      # it's deprecated. It's certainly not mentioned in the spec.
       assert_json_keys( $event, qw(
-         state_key prev_state
+         state_key
       ));
 
       assert_json_string( $event->{state_key} );
-      assert_json_list( $event->{prev_state} );
    }
 
    # TODO: Check signatures and hashes
@@ -233,7 +230,7 @@ sub assert_is_valid_pdu {
          my $protoevent = $body->{event};
 
          assert_json_keys( $protoevent, qw(
-            auth_events content depth prev_state room_id sender state_key type
+            auth_events content depth room_id sender state_key type
          ));
 
          assert_json_nonempty_list( my $auth_events = $protoevent->{auth_events} );
@@ -265,7 +262,7 @@ sub assert_is_valid_pdu {
 
          my %event = (
             ( map { $_ => $protoevent->{$_} } qw(
-               auth_events content depth prev_events prev_state room_id sender
+               auth_events content depth prev_events room_id sender
                state_key type ) ),
 
             event_id         => $datastore->next_event_id,
diff --git a/tests/50federation/35room-invite.pl b/tests/50federation/35room-invite.pl
index 78854cd3b..f17f87abc 100644
--- a/tests/50federation/35room-invite.pl
+++ b/tests/50federation/35room-invite.pl
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
             assert_eq( $body->{sender}, $user->user_id,
                'event sender' );
 
-            assert_json_keys( $body, qw( content state_key prev_state ));
+            assert_json_keys( $body, qw( content state_key ));
 
             assert_eq( $body->{content}{membership}, "invite",
                'event content membership' );
diff --git a/tests/52user-directory/01public.pl b/tests/52user-directory/01public.pl
index 588264747..584304bb6 100644
--- a/tests/52user-directory/01public.pl
+++ b/tests/52user-directory/01public.pl
@@ -151,9 +151,6 @@
    multi_test "Users appear/disappear from directory when $type are changed",
       requires => [ local_user_fixtures( 2 ) ],
 
-      # this test is currently flaky due to a synapse bug
-      bug => "synapse#2306",
-
       check => sub {
          my ( $creator, $user ) = @_;
 
@@ -249,9 +246,6 @@
 multi_test "Users stay in directory when join_rules are changed but history_visibility is world_readable",
    requires => [ local_user_fixtures( 2 ) ],
 
-   # this test is currently flaky due to a synapse bug
-   bug => "synapse#2306",
-
    check => sub {
       my ( $creator, $user ) = @_;
 
diff --git a/tests/61push/07_set_enabled.pl b/tests/61push/07_set_enabled.pl
index ef35d55da..c5916f31f 100644
--- a/tests/61push/07_set_enabled.pl
+++ b/tests/61push/07_set_enabled.pl
@@ -60,8 +60,6 @@ sub check_enable_disable_rule {
 test "Enabling an unknown default rule fails with 404",
    requires => [ local_user_fixture() ],
 
-   bug => "SYN-676",
-
    check => sub {
       my ( $user ) = @_;
       matrix_set_push_rule_enabled(
diff --git a/tests/90jira/SYN-115.pl b/tests/90jira/SYN-115.pl
index 029d3ae21..28a639500 100644
--- a/tests/90jira/SYN-115.pl
+++ b/tests/90jira/SYN-115.pl
@@ -4,10 +4,6 @@
    requires => [ local_user_fixture(), remote_user_fixture( with_events => 1 ),
                  qw( can_create_private_room )],
 
-   # this test fails intermittently on dendron-fronted builds, for unknown
-   # reasons.
-   bug => 'synapse#1663',
-
    do => sub {
       my ( $alice, $bob ) = @_;