def _merge_points(self, function_address):
        try:
            new_function = self.kb.functions[function_address]
        except KeyError:
            return [ ]
        if function_address not in self._function_merge_points:
            ordered_merge_points = CFGUtils.find_merge_points(function_address, new_function.endpoints,
                                                           new_function.graph)
            self._function_merge_points[function_address] = ordered_merge_points
        return self._function_merge_points[function_address]