diff --git a/changelog.d/11905.misc b/changelog.d/11905.misc
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..4f170cf01aa0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/11905.misc
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Preparation to support sending device list updates to application services.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/device.py b/synapse/handlers/device.py
index b184a48cb16c..36c05f8363b9 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/device.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/device.py
@@ -495,13 +495,11 @@ async def notify_device_update(
                 "Notifying about update %r/%r, ID: %r", user_id, device_id, position
             )
 
-        room_ids = await self.store.get_rooms_for_user(user_id)
-
         # specify the user ID too since the user should always get their own device list
         # updates, even if they aren't in any rooms.
-        self.notifier.on_new_event(
-            "device_list_key", position, users=[user_id], rooms=room_ids
-        )
+        users_to_notify = users_who_share_room.union({user_id})
+
+        self.notifier.on_new_event("device_list_key", position, users=users_to_notify)
 
         if hosts:
             logger.info(