diff --git a/changelog.d/19013.misc b/changelog.d/19013.misc
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..626a6e3db41
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/19013.misc
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Remove duplicate call to `hs.start_background_tasks()` introduced from a bad merge.
diff --git a/synapse/server.py b/synapse/server.py
index cc0d3a427b4..2c8afda162f 100644
--- a/synapse/server.py
+++ b/synapse/server.py
@@ -613,12 +613,6 @@ def setup(self) -> None:
         self.datastores = Databases(self.DATASTORE_CLASS, self)
         logger.info("Finished setting up.")
 
-        # Register background tasks required by this server. This must be done
-        # somewhat manually due to the background tasks not being registered
-        # unless handlers are instantiated.
-        if self.config.worker.run_background_tasks:
-            self.start_background_tasks()
-
     # def __del__(self) -> None:
     #    """
     #    Called when an the homeserver is garbage collected.