Preston earned their third draw in a row and their fourth 0-0 of the season as Gillingham drew a blank for the fifth time in six games.
Preston had an early chance after two minutes when David Healy hit a left-foot shot straight at Steve Banks and Graham Alexander had a right-foot free-kick saved.
Danny Spiller curled a shot wide of the left-hand post after 28 minutes, before Simon Lynch shot over and Alexander hit a free-kick wide.
Lynch then had a shot on the turn saved by Banks who dived to his right.
Spiller was booked right on half-time for not retreating ten yards.
Preston had an early chance in the second half when an Alexander left-foot right-wing cross was chested down by Ricardo Fuller and Richard Cresswell shot wide of the left-hand post.
Patrick Agyemang was booked on the hour mark for a foul on Claude Davis, before Fuller blazed over from 25 yards.
Gillingham's Matthew Jarvis found the dangerous Spiller and he shot wide of the left-hand post.
Healy shot straight at Banks and Fuller had a shot which hit the crossbar after a jinking run after 71 minutes.
Healy shot over and Mamady Sidibe had a cross shot saved by the Preston keeper.
Gillingham captain Paul Smith jinked past a couple of Preston defenders and beat on-loan midfielder Scot Gemmill before having a shot saved by Andy Lonergan.
With four minutes to go Rob Edwards had a header which hit the right-hand post.
The fourth official signalled four extra minutes and right at the end Healy had Preston's best chance but his shot was saved low down by Banks from a right-wing corner.
Just before the final whistle Preston captain Alexander was booked for dissent.
Preston manager Craig Brown said: "We got what we deserved." Gills player-boss Andy Hessenthaler was delighted with a point, but his team are still in a relegation battle.