diff --git a/synapse/storage/databases/main/appservice.py b/synapse/storage/databases/main/appservice.py
index 06944465582b..c1716e70ffeb 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/databases/main/appservice.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/databases/main/appservice.py
@@ -446,7 +446,7 @@ def get_type_stream_id_for_appservice_txn(txn):
             )
             last_stream_id = txn.fetchone()
             if last_stream_id is None or last_stream_id[0] is None:  # no row exists
-                return 0
+                return 1
             else:
                 return int(last_stream_id[0])
 
diff --git a/tests/storage/test_appservice.py b/tests/storage/test_appservice.py
index ee599f433667..6249eb8c115d 100644
--- a/tests/storage/test_appservice.py
+++ b/tests/storage/test_appservice.py
@@ -476,12 +476,12 @@ def test_get_type_stream_id_for_appservice_no_value(self) -> None:
         value = self.get_success(
             self.store.get_type_stream_id_for_appservice(self.service, "read_receipt")
         )
-        self.assertEqual(value, 0)
+        self.assertEqual(value, 1)
 
         value = self.get_success(
             self.store.get_type_stream_id_for_appservice(self.service, "presence")
         )
-        self.assertEqual(value, 0)
+        self.assertEqual(value, 1)
 
     def test_get_type_stream_id_for_appservice_invalid_type(self) -> None:
         self.get_failure(