diff --git a/synapse/rest/media/v1/thumbnail_resource.py b/synapse/rest/media/v1/thumbnail_resource.py
index ab52499785cd..1e71738bc401 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/media/v1/thumbnail_resource.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/media/v1/thumbnail_resource.py
@@ -72,6 +72,11 @@ def _respond_local_thumbnail(self, request, media_id, width, height,
             self._respond_404(request)
             return
 
+        if media_info["media_type"] == "image/svg+xml":
+            file_path = self.filepaths.local_media_filepath(media_id)
+            yield self._respond_with_file(request, media_info["media_type"], file_path)
+            return
+
         thumbnail_infos = yield self.store.get_local_media_thumbnails(media_id)
 
         if thumbnail_infos:
@@ -103,6 +108,11 @@ def _select_or_generate_local_thumbnail(self, request, media_id, desired_width,
             self._respond_404(request)
             return
 
+        if media_info["media_type"] == "image/svg+xml":
+            file_path = self.filepaths.local_media_filepath(media_id)
+            yield self._respond_with_file(request, media_info["media_type"], file_path)
+            return
+
         thumbnail_infos = yield self.store.get_local_media_thumbnails(media_id)
         for info in thumbnail_infos:
             t_w = info["thumbnail_width"] == desired_width
@@ -138,6 +148,11 @@ def _select_or_generate_remote_thumbnail(self, request, server_name, media_id,
                                              desired_method, desired_type):
         media_info = yield self._get_remote_media(server_name, media_id)
 
+        if media_info["media_type"] == "image/svg+xml":
+            file_path = self.filepaths.remote_media_filepath(server_name, media_id)
+            yield self._respond_with_file(request, media_info["media_type"], file_path)
+            return
+
         thumbnail_infos = yield self.store.get_remote_media_thumbnails(
             server_name, media_id,
         )
@@ -181,6 +196,11 @@ def _respond_remote_thumbnail(self, request, server_name, media_id, width,
         # We should proxy the thumbnail from the remote server instead.
         media_info = yield self._get_remote_media(server_name, media_id)
 
+        if media_info["media_type"] == "image/svg+xml":
+            file_path = self.filepaths.remote_media_filepath(server_name, media_id)
+            yield self._respond_with_file(request, media_info["media_type"], file_path)
+            return
+
         thumbnail_infos = yield self.store.get_remote_media_thumbnails(
             server_name, media_id,
         )