diff --git a/api/client-server/v1/sync.yaml b/api/client-server/v1/sync.yaml
index a08146b4..777e27db 100644
--- a/api/client-server/v1/sync.yaml
+++ b/api/client-server/v1/sync.yaml
@@ -285,8 +285,11 @@ paths:
                         chunk:
                           type: array
                           description: |-
-                            A list of the most recent messages for this room. This
-                            array will consist of at most ``limit`` elements.
+                            If the user is a member of the room this will be a
+                            list of the most recent messages for this room. If
+                            the user has left the room this will be the
+                            messages that preceeded them leaving. This array
+                            will consist of at most ``limit`` elements.
                           items:
                             type: object
                             title: RoomEvent
@@ -296,8 +299,10 @@ paths:
                     state:
                       type: array
                       description: |-
-                        A list of state events representing the current state
-                        of the room.
+                        If the user is a member of the room this will be the
+                        current state of the room as a list of events. If the
+                        user has left the room this will be the state of the
+                        room when they left it.
                       items:
                         title: StateEvent
                         type: object
@@ -347,4 +352,4 @@ paths:
             allOf:
               - "$ref": "definitions/event.yaml"
         404:
-          description: The event was not found or you do not have permission to read this event.
\ No newline at end of file
+          description: The event was not found or you do not have permission to read this event.