diff --git a/crates/iceberg/src/spec/snapshot.rs b/crates/iceberg/src/spec/snapshot.rs
index 72b5417c47..3b8a3c934e 100644
--- a/crates/iceberg/src/spec/snapshot.rs
+++ b/crates/iceberg/src/spec/snapshot.rs
@@ -291,6 +291,7 @@ pub(super) mod _serde {
         pub snapshot_id: i64,
         #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
         pub parent_snapshot_id: Option<i64>,
+        #[serde(default)]
         pub sequence_number: i64,
         pub timestamp_ms: i64,
         pub manifest_list: String,