diff --git a/matrix_client/client.py b/matrix_client/client.py
index af0e08f6..466cc427 100644
--- a/matrix_client/client.py
+++ b/matrix_client/client.py
@@ -583,60 +583,68 @@ def _sync(self, timeout_ms=30000):
         response = self.api.sync(self.sync_token, timeout_ms, filter=self.sync_filter)
         self.sync_token = response["next_batch"]
 
-        for presence_update in response['presence']['events']:
-            for callback in self.presence_listeners.values():
-                callback(presence_update)
-
-        for room_id, invite_room in response['rooms']['invite'].items():
-            for listener in self.invite_listeners:
-                listener(room_id, invite_room['invite_state'])
-
-        for room_id, left_room in response['rooms']['leave'].items():
-            for listener in self.left_listeners:
-                listener(room_id, left_room)
-            if room_id in self.rooms:
-                del self.rooms[room_id]
+        if 'presence' in response and 'events' in response['presence']:
+            for presence_update in response['presence']['events']:
+                for callback in self.presence_listeners.values():
+                    callback(presence_update)
 
         if self._encryption and 'device_one_time_keys_count' in response:
             self.olm_device.update_one_time_key_counts(
                 response['device_one_time_keys_count'])
 
-        for room_id, sync_room in response['rooms']['join'].items():
-            if room_id not in self.rooms:
-                self._mkroom(room_id)
-            room = self.rooms[room_id]
-            # TODO: the rest of this for loop should be in room object method
-            room.prev_batch = sync_room["timeline"]["prev_batch"]
-
-            for event in sync_room["state"]["events"]:
-                event['room_id'] = room_id
-                room._process_state_event(event)
-
-            for event in sync_room["timeline"]["events"]:
-                event['room_id'] = room_id
-                room._put_event(event)
-
-                # TODO: global listeners can still exist but work by each
-                # room.listeners[uuid] having reference to global listener
-
-                # Dispatch for client (global) listeners
-                for listener in self.listeners:
-                    if (
-                        listener['event_type'] is None or
-                        listener['event_type'] == event['type']
-                    ):
-                        listener['callback'](event)
-
-            for event in sync_room['ephemeral']['events']:
-                event['room_id'] = room_id
-                room._put_ephemeral_event(event)
-
-                for listener in self.ephemeral_listeners:
-                    if (
-                        listener['event_type'] is None or
-                        listener['event_type'] == event['type']
-                    ):
-                        listener['callback'](event)
+        rooms = response.get("rooms", {})
+        if 'invite' in rooms:
+            for room_id, invite_room in rooms['invite'].items():
+                for listener in self.invite_listeners:
+                    listener(room_id, invite_room['invite_state'])
+
+        if 'leave' in rooms:
+            for room_id, left_room in rooms['leave'].items():
+                for listener in self.left_listeners:
+                    listener(room_id, left_room)
+                if room_id in self.rooms:
+                    del self.rooms[room_id]
+
+        if 'join' in rooms:
+            for room_id, sync_room in rooms['join'].items():
+                if room_id not in self.rooms:
+                    self._mkroom(room_id)
+                room = self.rooms[room_id]
+                # TODO: the rest of this for loop should be in room object method
+                room.prev_batch = sync_room["timeline"]["prev_batch"]
+
+                if "state" in sync_room and "events" in sync_room["state"]:
+                    for event in sync_room["state"]["events"]:
+                        event['room_id'] = room_id
+                        room._process_state_event(event)
+
+                if "timeline" in sync_room and "events" in sync_room["timeline"]:
+                    for event in sync_room["timeline"]["events"]:
+                        event['room_id'] = room_id
+                        room._put_event(event)
+
+                        # TODO: global listeners can still exist but work by each
+                        # room.listeners[uuid] having reference to global listener
+
+                        # Dispatch for client (global) listeners
+                        for listener in self.listeners:
+                            if (
+                                listener['event_type'] is None or
+                                listener['event_type'] == event['type']
+                            ):
+                                listener['callback'](event)
+
+                if "ephemeral" in sync_room and "events" in sync_room["ephemeral"]:
+                    for event in sync_room['ephemeral']['events']:
+                        event['room_id'] = room_id
+                        room._put_ephemeral_event(event)
+
+                        for listener in self.ephemeral_listeners:
+                            if (
+                                listener['event_type'] is None or
+                                listener['event_type'] == event['type']
+                            ):
+                                listener['callback'](event)
 
     def get_user(self, user_id):
         """Deprecated. Return a User by their id.