diff --git a/synapse/storage/databases/main/media_repository.py b/synapse/storage/databases/main/media_repository.py
index c2285faf7630..ad2056d6b29d 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/databases/main/media_repository.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/databases/main/media_repository.py
@@ -418,13 +418,13 @@ async def count_pending_media(self, user_id: UserID) -> Tuple[int, int]:
         """
 
         def get_pending_media_txn(txn: LoggingTransaction) -> Tuple[int, int]:
-            sql = (
-                "SELECT COUNT(*), MIN(created_at)"
-                " FROM local_media_repository"
-                " WHERE user_id = ?"
-                " AND created_at > ?"
-                " AND media_length IS NULL"
-            )
+            sql = """
+            SELECT COUNT(*), MIN(created_at)
+            FROM local_media_repository
+            WHERE user_id = ?
+                AND created_at > ?
+                AND media_length IS NULL
+            """
             txn.execute(
                 sql,
                 (