Killie clinched a top six place in their first match since the departure of manager Mixu Paatelainen as St Johnstone missed a host of chances.
Frazer Wright made a goal-line clearance in the opening minute to prevent Saints' Collin Samuel scoring.
The hosts claimed unsuccessfully for a penalty after keeper Anssi Jaakkola tangled with Peter MacDonald.
MacDonald headed onto the crossbar and Jordan Robertson had an effort blocked as Saints failed to break through.
Kenny Shiels has expressed his wish to succeed his former boss Paatelainen but Kilmarnock turned in a strangely lacklustre performance.
And the visitors were caught napping straight from the kick off as they came close to going behind after just 12 seconds.
Danny Grainger's long diagonal ball into the box found Samuel on the right side of the area but, when he hooked his shot over the hesitant Jaakkola, Wright was on hand to head the net-bound effort away.
MacDonald was then left unattended in the penalty box but could not connect with a free header from Grainger's inswinging free-kick.
Soon after, a Liam Craig volley went straight into the chest of Jaakkola and the Finnish keeper was forced to tip away a Dave Mackay free-kick with only 13 minutes gone.
Jaakkola was called into action yet again as he dived full length to tip away a 20-yard drive from Danny Invincibile and only moments later Samuel dipped a long-range effort narrowly over the target.
Kilmarnock finally threatened in the 27th minute as playmaker Alexei Eremenko played in William Gros with a one-two on the right edge of the box but the French youngster's drive across the target was pushed away by Saints keeper Peter Enckleman.
Visiting skipper Craig Bryson sparked a break which allowed Gros to power away from the Saints defence but the former Le Havre player screwed his shot across the goal and wide from 20 yards out.
After the interval there was a moment of controversy as Jaakkola spilled Samuel's volley and, in trying to retrieve the loose ball, tangled with MacDonald.
However, despite loud claims from the home side, referee Stephen Finnie was unimpressed and waved play on.
Saints came within a whisker of the breakthrough in the 68th minute as Murray Davidson's cross from the right saw MacDonald rising highest but the diminutive marksman's header crashed down off the crossbar.
St Johnstone handed new signing Jordan Robertson his debut in the 71st minute and the Englishman almost made an immediate impact as he shrugged off Wright before shooting wide from eight yards out.
Chris Millar then speared in a 20-yard drive that Jaakkola needed two attempts to gather.
Saints were presented with yet another golden chance with 12 minutes remaining as Mackay's corner fell to Michael Duberry 12 yards out.
But the former Chelsea defender lifted his effort over the bar when he should have hit the target.
Fraser
Wright was withdrawn after 85
minutes of Saturday's match in Perth after colliding
with
Danny Invincibile. Wright was left
holding his right shoulder in the penalty box after
the clash with the Australian striker who recently
left Rugby Park for St Johnstone.
Wright's injury did allow for young
Gary
Fisher to make his Killie debut!
The final chance again fell to St Johnstone but
Davidson's header from Millar's cutback was blocked
at point-blank range by a combination of Jaakkola
and the defenders in front of him and the same fate
met Robertson's follow-up.
Sandy's Match Pic's are HERE
