diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/apache/iceberg/TableMetadata.java b/core/src/main/java/org/apache/iceberg/TableMetadata.java
index 9f6ffbcc8714..0cea4946d58f 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/apache/iceberg/TableMetadata.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/apache/iceberg/TableMetadata.java
@@ -1299,11 +1299,8 @@ public Builder removeRef(String name) {
 
     private Builder resetMainBranch() {
       this.currentSnapshotId = -1;
-      SnapshotRef ref = refs.remove(SnapshotRef.MAIN_BRANCH);
-      if (ref != null) {
-        changes.add(new MetadataUpdate.RemoveSnapshotRef(SnapshotRef.MAIN_BRANCH));
-      }
-
+      refs.remove(SnapshotRef.MAIN_BRANCH);
+      setBranchSnapshot(-1, SnapshotRef.MAIN_BRANCH);
       return this;
     }