diff --git a/pyiceberg/table/snapshots.py b/pyiceberg/table/snapshots.py
index b21a0f5613..c2820dd724 100644
--- a/pyiceberg/table/snapshots.py
+++ b/pyiceberg/table/snapshots.py
@@ -228,6 +228,14 @@ def __eq__(self, other: Any) -> bool:
         )
 
 
+def _manifests(io: FileIO, manifest_list: Optional[str]) -> List[ManifestFile]:
+    """Return the manifests for the given snapshot."""
+    if manifest_list not in (None, ""):
+        file = io.new_input(manifest_list)  # type: ignore
+        return list(read_manifest_list(file))
+    return []
+
+
 class Snapshot(IcebergBaseModel):
     snapshot_id: int = Field(alias="snapshot-id")
     parent_snapshot_id: Optional[int] = Field(alias="parent-snapshot-id", default=None)
@@ -248,10 +256,8 @@ def __str__(self) -> str:
         return result_str
 
     def manifests(self, io: FileIO) -> List[ManifestFile]:
-        if self.manifest_list is not None:
-            file = io.new_input(self.manifest_list)
-            return list(read_manifest_list(file))
-        return []
+        """Return the manifests for the given snapshot."""
+        return _manifests(io, self.manifest_list)
 
 
 class MetadataLogEntry(IcebergBaseModel):