The Latics beat Forest home and away last season before both teams reached the play-off semi-finals and they have drawn four successive blanks against them after two stalemates this time around.
Forest were knocked off their lofty perch at the top of League One just before kick-off when Leeds took a point at Hartlepool, and they could not reclaim it in the face of strong Oldham defence.
The best opening fell to Oldham's Lee Hughes, who was brilliantly denied in the second half by visiting keeper Paul Smith.
Forest, with just six away goals conceded all season, were missing injured striker Nathan Tyson, but Oldham manager John Sheridan felt they set out their stall for a point.
Kris Commons was left on the bench for an hour and Sheridan had mixed feelings about their result.
He said: "Forest are a very hard team to break down and that's why they are right up there at the top of the table.
"I thought they came to frustrate us, which you could see from their team selection, and while I am happy with the way we defended, it would have been nice to create a bit more up front.''
Forest boss Colin Calderwood said: "I didn't even know we were off the top beforehand because I am just concentrating on what we do.
"Oldham have quality players who can cause you a problem. We limited them to minimal opportunities and I am happy enough.''
Oldham had a half-chance after just two minutes when midfielder Neil Kilkenny crossed from the right and Chris Taylor arrived at the far post only to hit the woodwork from a difficult angle.
Oldham dominated for long spells of the first half and Taylor shot at Smith from 20 yards but Forest were standing firm.
Commons went as a substitute and fired just over with a free-kick from outside the box, but the best chance came for Hughes on 69 minutes when he did well to turn Ian Breckin, but saw his blistering drive from eight yards bring a stunning save from Smith.