Jack Bonham saved Sory Kaba's second-half penalty to earn Stoke City a point at relegation-threatened Cardiff.
The Potters took the lead from their first corner, Will Smallbone's cross met by Josh Laurent who headed home.
It was a half of few chances, but Cardiff were level when Kaba took advantage of a Stoke mix-up to level.
Kaba had the chance to win it for Cardiff from the spot after Jaden Philogene was fouled, but Bonham got down quickly to earn Stoke a point.
Cardiff dropped a place to 20th, but moved to three points clear of the relegation zone after Reading fell to defeat at Coventry.