diff --git a/pyiceberg/table/snapshots.py b/pyiceberg/table/snapshots.py
index 07ca23a3b7..94df47f53c 100644
--- a/pyiceberg/table/snapshots.py
+++ b/pyiceberg/table/snapshots.py
@@ -230,12 +230,10 @@ def __eq__(self, other: Any) -> bool:
 
 
 @lru_cache
-def _manifests(io: FileIO, manifest_list: Optional[str]) -> List[ManifestFile]:
+def _manifests(io: FileIO, manifest_list: str) -> List[ManifestFile]:
     """Return the manifests from the manifest list."""
-    if manifest_list not in (None, ""):
-        file = io.new_input(manifest_list)  # type: ignore
-        return list(read_manifest_list(file))
-    return []
+    file = io.new_input(manifest_list)
+    return list(read_manifest_list(file))
 
 
 class Snapshot(IcebergBaseModel):
@@ -259,7 +257,9 @@ def __str__(self) -> str:
 
     def manifests(self, io: FileIO) -> List[ManifestFile]:
         """Return the manifests for the given snapshot."""
-        return _manifests(io, self.manifest_list)
+        if self.manifest_list:
+            return _manifests(io, self.manifest_list)
+        return []
 
 
 class MetadataLogEntry(IcebergBaseModel):