diff --git a/pyiceberg/table/__init__.py b/pyiceberg/table/__init__.py
index b52b8ea7e1..fbfeb9aec2 100644
--- a/pyiceberg/table/__init__.py
+++ b/pyiceberg/table/__init__.py
@@ -959,20 +959,17 @@ def scan(
         Returns:
             A DataScan based on the table's current metadata.
         """
-        scan = DataScan(
+        return DataScan(
             table_metadata=self.metadata,
             io=self.io,
             row_filter=row_filter,
             selected_fields=selected_fields,
             case_sensitive=case_sensitive,
             snapshot_id=snapshot_id,
+            ref_name=ref_name,
             options=options,
             limit=limit,
         )
-        if ref_name is not None:
-            scan = scan.use_ref(ref_name)
-
-        return scan
 
     @property
     def format_version(self) -> TableVersion:
@@ -1438,6 +1435,7 @@ class TableScan(ABC):
     selected_fields: Tuple[str, ...]
     case_sensitive: bool
     snapshot_id: Optional[int]
+    ref_name: Optional[str]
     options: Properties
     limit: Optional[int]
 
@@ -1449,6 +1447,7 @@ def __init__(
         selected_fields: Tuple[str, ...] = ("*",),
         case_sensitive: bool = True,
         snapshot_id: Optional[int] = None,
+        ref_name: Optional[str] = None,
         options: Properties = EMPTY_DICT,
         limit: Optional[int] = None,
     ):
@@ -1458,12 +1457,20 @@ def __init__(
         self.selected_fields = selected_fields
         self.case_sensitive = case_sensitive
         self.snapshot_id = snapshot_id
+        self.ref_name = ref_name
         self.options = options
         self.limit = limit
 
     def snapshot(self) -> Optional[Snapshot]:
+        if self.snapshot_id and self.ref_name is not None:
+            raise ValueError("Cannot specify both snapshot_id and ref_name.")
         if self.snapshot_id:
             return self.table_metadata.snapshot_by_id(self.snapshot_id)
+        if self.ref_name is not None:
+            if snapshot := self.table_metadata.snapshot_by_name(self.ref_name):
+                return snapshot
+            else:
+                raise ValueError(f"Cannot scan unknown ref={self.ref_name}")
         return self.table_metadata.current_snapshot()
 
     def projection(self) -> Schema:
@@ -1503,12 +1510,7 @@ def update(self: S, **overrides: Any) -> S:
         return type(self)(**{**self.__dict__, **overrides})
 
     def use_ref(self: S, name: str) -> S:
-        if self.snapshot_id:
-            raise ValueError(f"Cannot override ref, already set snapshot id={self.snapshot_id}")
-        if snapshot := self.table_metadata.snapshot_by_name(name):
-            return self.update(snapshot_id=snapshot.snapshot_id)
-
-        raise ValueError(f"Cannot scan unknown ref={name}")
+        return self.update(ref_name=name)
 
     def select(self: S, *field_names: str) -> S:
         if "*" in self.selected_fields:
diff --git a/tests/table/test_init.py b/tests/table/test_init.py
index 69bbab527e..a938ec12bf 100644
--- a/tests/table/test_init.py
+++ b/tests/table/test_init.py
@@ -318,14 +318,23 @@ def test_table_scan_row_filter(table_v2: Table) -> None:
 
 def test_table_scan_ref(table_v2: Table) -> None:
     scan = table_v2.scan()
-    assert scan.use_ref("test").snapshot_id == 3051729675574597004
+    assert scan.use_ref("test").ref_name == "test"
+
+
+def test_table_scan_ref_and_snapshot_id(table_v2: Table) -> None:
+    scan = table_v2.scan(snapshot_id=123)
+
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError) as exc_info:
+        _ = scan.use_ref("test").snapshot()
+
+    assert "Cannot specify both snapshot_id and ref_name" in str(exc_info.value)
 
 
 def test_table_scan_ref_does_not_exists(table_v2: Table) -> None:
     scan = table_v2.scan()
 
     with pytest.raises(ValueError) as exc_info:
-        _ = scan.use_ref("boom")
+        _ = scan.use_ref("boom").snapshot()
 
     assert "Cannot scan unknown ref=boom" in str(exc_info.value)