diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/apache/iceberg/TableMetadata.java b/core/src/main/java/org/apache/iceberg/TableMetadata.java
index 92aba60c529a..7b40e73bf5d1 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/apache/iceberg/TableMetadata.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/apache/iceberg/TableMetadata.java
@@ -938,7 +938,7 @@ public Builder addSnapshot(Snapshot snapshot) {
 
     public Builder setCurrentSnapshot(Snapshot snapshot) {
       addSnapshot(snapshot);
-      setCurrentSnapshot(snapshot, null);
+      setCurrentSnapshot(snapshot, System.currentTimeMillis());
       return this;
     }