diff --git a/changelog.d/19559.bugfix b/changelog.d/19559.bugfix
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..f64a84e8e02
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/19559.bugfix
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Fix quarantine media admin APIs sometimes returning inaccurate counts for remote media.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/synapse/storage/databases/main/room.py b/synapse/storage/databases/main/room.py
index 633df077367..7ac88e4c2aa 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/databases/main/room.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/databases/main/room.py
@@ -1217,7 +1217,6 @@ def _quarantine_remote_media_txn(
             txn.execute(sql, [quarantined_by] + sql_args)
             total_media_quarantined += txn.rowcount if txn.rowcount > 0 else 0
 
-        total_media_quarantined = 0
         if hashes:
             sql_many_clause_sql, sql_many_clause_args = make_in_list_sql_clause(
                 txn.database_engine, "sha256", hashes