Ten-man Huddersfield Town were denied victory by a stoppage-time equaliser after Nahki Wells notched his fourth goal of the season.
The Bermudian scored five minutes into the second half after Murray Wallace had been red carded for a professional foul on Igor Vetokele in first-half stoppage time.
Town showed real resolve to defend their lead but were undone two minutes into the five added on when Vetokele stabbed the ball home from close range.
It was a bitter pill to swallow for caretaker manager Mark Lillis and the home support.
There was one change apiece as the sides faced each other for the eighth time in less than two years.
Town skipper Lee Peltier returned after a groin injury, taking the midfield berth of Jonathan Hogg.
Charlton had the more experienced Chris Solly in for teenage right-back Joe Gomez.
The Londoners looked decidedly shaky early on, but Town were unable to take advantage, Wells coming closest with a low angled shot which
Solly blocked before Vetokele had a chipped goal disallowed for offside.
Visiting keeper Nick Pope saved from Wells, Paul Dixon and Harry Bunn (twice) while Belgian frontman Vetokele was Charlton's most dangerous player.
It took left-back Dixon's block to deny him after he skipped around Alex Smithies, then the Town keeper tipped his rising drive over the bar.
Wallace's dismissal came after he pulled back Vetokele as he burst through on goal.
Town argued the card should have been yellow because Joel Lynch was a covering defender, and referee Tim Robinson was booed off at the break.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Town pushed forward at the start of the second half, and were soon rewarded.
Sean Scannell's clever back-heel set up Tommy Smith, whose low cross from the right was finished off from close range by Wells.
Peltier had dropped to centre-back, but was struggling with an apparent recurrence of his injury, and was replaced by Radi Majewski after 59 minutes, with Conor Coady taking up a defensive role.
Wells was taken off after 63 minutes, with James Vaughan, back after a calf problem, coming on for his first appearance of the season.
Vaughan was soon in the action, breaking powerfully down the right and testing Pope with a sizzling shot.
And the frontman had a late penalty appeal turned down when he tumbled under Tal Ben Haim's challenge before Vetokele had his say.
