This was the Reds' third game without a win in League, One but it could have been worse as the visitors spurned a number of opportunities to take victory.
Forest were indebted to keeper Paul Smith, who made a number of vital saves - although Luke Chambers, Kris Commons and Junior Agogo also failed to hit the target with golden opportunities for the home side.
It was Latics boss John Sheridan who went into the game under pressure, but you would not have guessed that as his side began in confident fashion.
In fact, it was Forest's Colin Calderwood who found himself under fire following a first half in which his side had again failed to live up to their potential.
It was a scrappy first period, but it was one that the visitors dominated, forcing two good saves from home keeper Smith.
He had to be at his best to palm over a rising shot from Craig Davies and also to get his body behind a driven effort from Chris Taylor.
Oldham had seen Matt Wolfenden fire wide as early as the fifth minute, after he had been picked out by Andy Liddell.
Forest had also missed some glaring opportunities, with Chambers sending a firm downward header bouncing wide of the post with the goal at his mercy and Agogo also off-target with a header from eight yards when unmarked.
Ghana international Agogo had also been pulled up twice with narrow offside decisions, but Forest could still feel lucky to go in level at the break, after again failing to produce their best form.
After the interval Forest repeatedly came close to breaking the Oldham offside trap, with the visitors living dangerously as both Grant Holt and Agogo came within inches of breaking clear.
But again it was Oldham who had the most potent threat and Gary McDonald should have given them the lead, but could not muster enough power to beat Smith after being picked out by Neal Eardley's cut-back.
Substitute Arron Davies - making his Forest debut after being injured in pre-season following his arrival from Yeovil - almost made an immediate impact as he rolled a shot a yard the wrong side of the post.
And he then set up fellow former Yeovil man Cohen for a golden opportunity, but the midfielder failed to beat keeper Marlon Beresford and Forest were left frustrated.