diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/apache/iceberg/TableMetadata.java b/core/src/main/java/org/apache/iceberg/TableMetadata.java
index aa801bfe35b2..61f3a389fd33 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/apache/iceberg/TableMetadata.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/apache/iceberg/TableMetadata.java
@@ -1012,7 +1012,7 @@ public Builder enableRowLineage() {
       }
 
       // otherwise this is a no-op
-      return null;
+      return this;
     }
 
     public Builder withMetadataLocation(String newMetadataLocation) {