diff --git a/changelogs/client_server/newsfragments/1639.clarification b/changelogs/client_server/newsfragments/1639.clarification
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..781cc2ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/client_server/newsfragments/1639.clarification
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Clarify that an `m.room.name` event with an absent `name` field is not expected behavior.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/data/event-schemas/schema/m.room.name.yaml b/data/event-schemas/schema/m.room.name.yaml
index c9236de0..0b3b34dc 100644
--- a/data/event-schemas/schema/m.room.name.yaml
+++ b/data/event-schemas/schema/m.room.name.yaml
@@ -7,9 +7,8 @@ description: |-
     is a human-friendly string designed to be displayed to the end-user. The
     room name is not unique, as multiple rooms can have the same room name set.
 
-    A room with an `m.room.name` event with an absent, null, or empty
-    `name` field should be treated the same as a room with no `m.room.name`
-    event.
+    If a room has an `m.room.name` event with an absent, null, or empty `name`
+    field, it should be treated the same as a room with no `m.room.name` event.
 
     An event of this type is automatically created when creating a room using
     `/createRoom` with the `name` key.