A penalty from Michael McIndoe earned Doncaster a point they barely deserved following their worst home performance of the season.
Rovers were missing three key players and struggled throughout to play the brand of football that had brought them three successive home victories.
They looked disjointed and the service to strikers Leo Fortune-West and James Coppinger was poor.
But they did have their chances and would have only had themselves to blame had Oldham pinched victory when they squandered a couple of golden opportunities of their own in the closing minutes.
Oldham began brighter with Kevin Betsy firing just over the top in the second minute and Jermaine Johnson saw a fierce shot bounce off home keeper Andy Warrington moments later.
It took Doncaster some time to get their act together although Paul Green went close when he latched on to a return pass from Coppinger to hit a fierce swerving shot which Craig Mawson did well to tip round the post.
Mawson had a good game in goal for Oldham on his league debut but Doncaster failed to put him under sustained pressure as they struggled for inspiration.
Fortune-West missed a great chance in the 29th minute when he headed high over the top with the goal gaping following a corner.
Oldham made a breakthrough 10 minutes later with a splendid strike from Johnson who volleyed home in fine style from the edge of the box after latching on to a high bouncing through ball from Will Haining.
Rovers equalised on the stroke of half time following a hotly disputed penalty award after John Eyre was judged to have handled a shot from Mark Albrighton.
McIndoe slotted home the penalty in confident style with Mawson diving the wrong way.
The second half was scrappy with neither side able to lift their game although Nick Fenton almost scored in the 62nd minute before McIndoe was ruled offside as he held the ball over the line.