diff --git a/api/client-server/v2_alpha/definitions/sync_filter.json b/api/client-server/v2_alpha/definitions/sync_filter.json
index c9c47646d..bfc8b51d6 100644
--- a/api/client-server/v2_alpha/definitions/sync_filter.json
+++ b/api/client-server/v2_alpha/definitions/sync_filter.json
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
             "The state events to include for rooms.",
           "allOf": [{"$ref": "definitions/event_filter.json"}]
         },
-        "events": {
+        "timeline": {
           "description":
             "The message and state update events to include for rooms.",
           "allOf": [{"$ref": "definitions/event_filter.json"}]
diff --git a/api/client-server/v2_alpha/filter.yaml b/api/client-server/v2_alpha/filter.yaml
index 5296f11ac..3e564f4b5 100644
--- a/api/client-server/v2_alpha/filter.yaml
+++ b/api/client-server/v2_alpha/filter.yaml
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ paths:
                     "types": ["m.room.*"],
                     "not_rooms": ["!726s6s6q:example.com"]
                   },
-                  "events": {
+                  "timeline": {
                     "types": ["m.room.message"],
                     "not_rooms": ["!726s6s6q:example.com"],
                     "not_senders": ["@spam:example.com"]
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ paths:
                     "types": ["m.room.*"],
                     "not_rooms": ["!726s6s6q:example.com"]
                   },
-                  "events": {
+                  "timeline": {
                     "types": ["m.room.message"],
                     "not_rooms": ["!726s6s6q:example.com"],
                     "not_senders": ["@spam:example.com"]