diff --git a/synapse/storage/databases/state/store.py b/synapse/storage/databases/state/store.py
index 4f525cfe4bd..9944f90015c 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/databases/state/store.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/databases/state/store.py
@@ -874,7 +874,7 @@ def _purge_room_state_txn(
         )
 
         logger.info("[purge] removing %s from state_groups", room_id)
-        self.db_pool.simple_delete_many_txn(
+        self.db_pool.simple_delete_txn(
             txn,
             table="state_groups",
             keyvalues={"room_id": room_id},