diff --git a/changelogs/client_server/newsfragments/1647.clarification b/changelogs/client_server/newsfragments/1647.clarification
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d7c9a685
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/client_server/newsfragments/1647.clarification
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Fix schemas used for account data and presence events in `GET /initialSync`.
diff --git a/data/api/client-server/old_sync.yaml b/data/api/client-server/old_sync.yaml
index 540c97c7..2d1e4f61 100644
--- a/data/api/client-server/old_sync.yaml
+++ b/data/api/client-server/old_sync.yaml
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ paths:
                     type: array
                     description: A list of presence events.
                     items:
-                      $ref: definitions/client_event.yaml
+                      $ref: ../../event-schemas/schema/core-event-schema/event.yaml
                   rooms:
                     type: array
                     items:
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ paths:
                             The private data that this user has attached to
                             this room.
                           items:
-                            $ref: definitions/client_event.yaml
+                            $ref: ../../event-schemas/schema/core-event-schema/event.yaml
                       required:
                         - room_id
                         - membership
@@ -227,10 +227,7 @@ paths:
                     type: array
                     description: The global private data created by this user.
                     items:
-                      title: Event
-                      type: object
-                      allOf:
-                        - $ref: ../../event-schemas/schema/core-event-schema/event.yaml
+                      $ref: ../../event-schemas/schema/core-event-schema/event.yaml
                 required:
                   - end
                   - rooms