diff --git a/oslo_db/sqlalchemy/enginefacade.py b/oslo_db/sqlalchemy/enginefacade.py
index 80c320ba..1617ebb7 100644
--- a/oslo_db/sqlalchemy/enginefacade.py
+++ b/oslo_db/sqlalchemy/enginefacade.py
@@ -393,7 +393,8 @@ class _TransactionFactory(object):
             self._start()
         if mode is _WRITER:
             return self._writer_engine.connect()
-        elif self.synchronous_reader or mode is _ASYNC_READER:
+        elif mode is _ASYNC_READER or \
+                (mode is _READER and not self.synchronous_reader):
             return self._reader_engine.connect()
         else:
             return self._writer_engine.connect()
@@ -408,7 +409,8 @@ class _TransactionFactory(object):
             kw['bind'] = bind
         if mode is _WRITER:
             return self._writer_maker(**kw)
-        elif self.synchronous_reader or mode is _ASYNC_READER:
+        elif mode is _ASYNC_READER or \
+                (mode is _READER and not self.synchronous_reader):
             return self._reader_maker(**kw)
         else:
             return self._writer_maker(**kw)
diff --git a/oslo_db/tests/sqlalchemy/test_enginefacade.py b/oslo_db/tests/sqlalchemy/test_enginefacade.py
index 91e40a17..b085f91b 100644
--- a/oslo_db/tests/sqlalchemy/test_enginefacade.py
+++ b/oslo_db/tests/sqlalchemy/test_enginefacade.py
@@ -135,15 +135,15 @@ class MockFacadeTest(oslo_test_base.BaseTestCase):
             async_reader_maker = writer_maker
 
         if self.synchronous_reader:
-            reader_conn = async_reader_conn
-            reader_engine = async_reader_engine
-            reader_session = async_reader_session
-            reader_maker = async_reader_maker
-        else:
             reader_conn = writer_conn
             reader_engine = writer_engine
             reader_session = writer_session
             reader_maker = writer_maker
+        else:
+            reader_conn = async_reader_conn
+            reader_engine = async_reader_engine
+            reader_session = async_reader_session
+            reader_maker = async_reader_maker
 
         self.connections = AssertDataSource(
             writer_conn, reader_conn, async_reader_conn
@@ -236,9 +236,9 @@ class MockFacadeTest(oslo_test_base.BaseTestCase):
             async_reader_engine = writer_engine
 
         if self.synchronous_reader:
-            reader_engine = async_reader_engine
-        else:
             reader_engine = writer_engine
+        else:
+            reader_engine = async_reader_engine
 
         engines = AssertDataSource(
             writer_engine, reader_engine, async_reader_engine)
@@ -333,9 +333,9 @@ class MockFacadeTest(oslo_test_base.BaseTestCase):
             async_reader_maker = writer_maker
 
         if self.synchronous_reader:
-            reader_maker = async_reader_maker
-        else:
             reader_maker = writer_maker
+        else:
+            reader_maker = async_reader_maker
 
         makers = AssertDataSource(
             writer_maker,
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/fix_synchronous_reader-ca442ca9f07470ec.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/fix_synchronous_reader-ca442ca9f07470ec.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c842b7d1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/fix_synchronous_reader-ca442ca9f07470ec.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+---
+fixes:
+  - |
+    Repaired the "synchronous_reader" modifier of enginefacade so that it
+    refers to the "writer" engine when set to True, thereby allowing
+    "synchronous" behavior with the writer.  When set to False, this is
+    "asynchronous", so this should be associated with the async engines.
+    The flag had the reverse behavior previously.