}
        }

        // at this point e is either null or expired;
        return lockedGetOrLoad(key, hash, loader);
      } catch (ExecutionException ee) {
        Throwable cause = ee.getCause();
        if (cause instanceof Error) {
          throw new ExecutionError((Error) cause);
        } else if (cause instanceof RuntimeException) {
          throw new UncheckedExecutionException(cause);
        }