`vm.runInThisContext` fails with top-level `await`

[n-riesco]

Version

v16.13.0

Platform

Linux 176bea3b1763 5.4.0-90-generic #101-Ubuntu SMP Fri Oct 15 20:00:55 UTC 2021 x86_64 GNU/Linux

Subsystem

vm

What steps will reproduce the bug?

$ node
Welcome to Node.js v16.13.0.
Type ".help" for more information.
> vm.runInThisContext("await 42")
evalmachine.<anonymous>:1
await 42
^^^^^

Uncaught:
SyntaxError: await is only valid in async functions and the top level bodies of modules
> 

How often does it reproduce? Is there a required condition?

always

What is the expected behavior?

Some output as running await 42.

What do you see instead?

$ node
Welcome to Node.js v16.13.0.
Type ".help" for more information.
> await 42
42
> 

Additional information

No response

[devsnek]

vm.runInThisContext runs a script and therefore does not support top level await. if you want to use that you'll need to use the experimental vm.Module api. the repl is just transpiling code with top level await into async functions.

[n-riesco]

@devsnek Do you know if V8 has plans for this? eval("await 42") also fails.