diff --git a/synapse/handlers/federation_event.py b/synapse/handlers/federation_event.py
index 2ba321eacd..d0556f11e6 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/federation_event.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/federation_event.py
@@ -323,6 +323,18 @@ class FederationEventHandler:
                         pdu.state_key, pdu.room_id
                     )
                     if origin == via_server or origin == get_domain_from_id(pdu.sender):
+                        # As an outlier the event will never gain a
+                        # `replaces_state`, so reflect the replaced knock in
+                        # `unsigned` ourselves: clients use `prev_content` to
+                        # distinguish a denied knock from a plain kick.
+                        knock_event = await self._store.get_event(
+                            membership_event_id, allow_none=True
+                        )
+                        if knock_event is not None:
+                            pdu.unsigned["replaces_state"] = knock_event.event_id
+                            pdu.unsigned["prev_content"] = knock_event.content
+                            pdu.unsigned["prev_sender"] = knock_event.sender
+
                         # Handle the denial event
                         pdu.internal_metadata.outlier = True
                         pdu.internal_metadata.out_of_band_membership = True
diff --git a/tests/federation/test_federation_knock_msc4233.py b/tests/federation/test_federation_knock_msc4233.py
index 4f01fd1d05..6900d87031 100644
--- a/tests/federation/test_federation_knock_msc4233.py
+++ b/tests/federation/test_federation_knock_msc4233.py
@@ -405,9 +405,10 @@ class KnockViaServerTestCase(unittest.FederatingHomeserverTestCase):
 
         # The knock should (eventually - the PDU is processed in the
         # background) be retracted.
+        leave_event_id = None
         with test_timeout(3, "Denial of the knock was not processed"):
             while True:
-                membership, _ = self.get_success(
+                membership, leave_event_id = self.get_success(
                     self.store.get_local_current_membership_for_user_in_room(
                         knock_result.local_user1_id, knock_result.remote_room_id
                     )
@@ -416,6 +417,19 @@ class KnockViaServerTestCase(unittest.FederatingHomeserverTestCase):
                     break
                 time.sleep(0.1)
 
+        # The stored leave should carry the replaced knock in `unsigned`, so
+        # that clients can tell a denied knock from a plain kick.
+        assert leave_event_id is not None
+        leave_event = self.get_success(self.store.get_event(leave_event_id))
+        self.assertEqual(
+            leave_event.unsigned.get("prev_content", {}).get("membership"),
+            Membership.KNOCK,
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(
+            leave_event.unsigned.get("replaces_state"),
+            knock_result.knock_event_id,
+        )
+
     def test_denied_knock_ignored_without_knock_in_auth_events(self) -> None:
         """A leave event for our knocked user which does not reference the
         knock in its auth events is ignored."""