diff --git a/tests/table/test_init.py b/tests/table/test_init.py
index 69bbab527e..71a26fb9d8 100644
--- a/tests/table/test_init.py
+++ b/tests/table/test_init.py
@@ -1378,3 +1378,13 @@ def test_remove_statistics_update(table_v2_with_statistics: Table) -> None:
             table_v2_with_statistics.metadata,
             (RemoveStatisticsUpdate(snapshot_id=123456789),),
         )
+
+
+def test_all_table_updates_have_dispatch() -> None:
+    # ensures that every TableUpdate subclass has a corresponding `_apply_table_update` dispatch function.
+    from pyiceberg.table.update import TableUpdate, _apply_table_update
+
+    table_update_classes = set(TableUpdate.__origin__.__args__)  # type: ignore
+    dispatch_classes = set(_apply_table_update.registry.keys())
+    missing_dispatch = table_update_classes - dispatch_classes
+    assert not missing_dispatch, f"Missing dispatch function for: {missing_dispatch}"