if (valueReference.isLoading()) {
        valueReference.notifyNewValue(null);
        return first;
      } else {
        return removeEntryFromChain(first, entry);
      }
    }

    @GuardedBy("this")
    @Nullable ReferenceEntry<K, V> removeEntryFromChain(
        ReferenceEntry<K, V> first, ReferenceEntry<K, V> entry) {
      int newCount = count;
      ReferenceEntry<K, V> newFirst = entry.getNext();

      if (valueReference.isLoading()) {
        valueReference.notifyNewValue(null);
        return first;
      } else {
        return removeEntryFromChain(first, entry);
      }
    }

    @GuardedBy("this")
    @Nullable ReferenceEntry<K, V> removeEntryFromChain(
        ReferenceEntry<K, V> first, ReferenceEntry<K, V> entry) {
      int newCount = count;
      ReferenceEntry<K, V> newFirst = entry.getNext();

    // alone
    assertThat(segment.removeEntryFromChain(entryOne, entryOne)).isNull();

    // head
    assertThat(segment.removeEntryFromChain(entryTwo, entryTwo)).isSameInstanceAs(entryOne);

    // middle
    ReferenceEntry<Object, Object> newFirst = segment.removeEntryFromChain(entryThree, entryTwo);
    assertThat(newFirst.getKey()).isSameInstanceAs(keyThree);

    // alone
    assertThat(segment.removeEntryFromChain(entryOne, entryOne)).isNull();

    // head
    assertThat(segment.removeEntryFromChain(entryTwo, entryTwo)).isSameInstanceAs(entryOne);

    // middle
    ReferenceEntry<Object, Object> newFirst = segment.removeEntryFromChain(entryThree, entryTwo);
    assertThat(newFirst.getKey()).isSameInstanceAs(keyThree);