Youngster Kevin Foley struck with 25 minutes to play to seal a comeback and three points for Luton Town on the opening day of the Coca-Cola League One season.
Oldham led through Will Haining's tenth minute header, but the Town levelled via a towering Steve Howard header in the 19th minute.
However, the Hatters had goalkeeper Marlon Beresford to thank at the death when he saved Jermaine Johnson's shot from ten yards.
Both sides combined to produce an attractive game in the sunshine at Kenilworth Road.
Luton's loan signing Rowan Vine tested visiting keeper Les Pogliacomi with a low shot from 18 yards in the seventh minute, but it was comfortably held.
But it was the Latics who took the lead three minutes later when defender Haining rose highest at the near post to nod home Mark Bonner's corner, with the ball going in off the far post.
The Hatters were soon on level terms in the 19th minute. Steve Robinson curled in a flag kick from the left hand side and Howard rose to head home from six yards.
The high tempo continued despite the warm conditions and Oldham's Jamaican international Johnson outstripped both Curtis Davies and Chris Coyne in the 21st minute, but Beresford was out quickly to smother at the striker's feet.
The speedy Johnson almost broke through again a minute before the interval when he latched on to Pogliacomi's long clearance, but lobbed just over the bar from 25 yards.
Luton were unlucky not to take a lead into half-time though as Howard's right-foot strike was tipped past the post by Pogliacomi.
Town finally went ahead in the 65th minute when a looping cross from the right was headed down by Howard and Foley swept the ball home with his left foot from ten yards out.