diff --git a/changelog.d/7881.misc b/changelog.d/7881.misc
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..67991170990d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/7881.misc
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Change "unknown room version" logging from 'error' to 'warning'.
diff --git a/synapse/storage/data_stores/main/events_worker.py b/synapse/storage/data_stores/main/events_worker.py
index a7d685f6308e..e812c67078de 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/data_stores/main/events_worker.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/data_stores/main/events_worker.py
@@ -639,7 +639,7 @@ def _get_events_from_db(self, event_ids, allow_rejected=False):
             else:
                 room_version = KNOWN_ROOM_VERSIONS.get(room_version_id)
                 if not room_version:
-                    logger.error(
+                    logger.warning(
                         "Event %s in room %s has unknown room version %s",
                         event_id,
                         d["room_id"],