Erratic async/await behaviour

index.js

const Nightmare = require('nightmare'); // 2.10.0

let thatSpecialPlaceInMemory;
const makeNightmare = async () => {

  const n = new Nightmare({ show: true });

  await n.useragent('custom ua');
  await n.goto('about:blank');

  thatSpecialPlaceInMemory = n;
  console.log('n exists? before return', !!n);
  return n;
};

const x = async () => {

  const n = await makeNightmare();
  console.log('n exists? after return', !!n);

  if (n !== thatSpecialPlaceInMemory) {
    throw 'return function was incorrect'
  }

  await thatSpecialPlaceInMemory.end()
};

x()
  .then(console.log)
  .catch(e => {
    console.error(e);
    thatSpecialPlaceInMemory.end().then(_ => _);
  });