int keyHash = smearedHash(key);
    int entryForKey = findEntryByKey(key, keyHash);
    if (entryForKey != ABSENT) {
      V oldValue = values[entryForKey];
      if (Objects.equals(oldValue, value)) {
        return value;
      } else {
        replaceValueInEntry(entryForKey, value, force);
        return oldValue;
      }
    }