Livingston plundered a point at Easter Road with two goals in the final three minutes.
In a game that was ultimately meaningless for Hibs with Dundee clinching a place in the top six, they looked to have the points in the bag with goals from Alen Orman and substitute Derek Riordan.
But there was a sting in the tail with Barry Wilson pulling a goal back for Livingston with a 25-yard shot and then Burton O'Brien equalised with an angled effort.
In a poor first half, Hibs took the lead when Orman headed in at the back post after a great cross from McManus.
Marvin Andrews then clumsily gave away a free-kick just outside his area, and Riordan curled a delightful free-kick past a bewildered Alan Main.
Livi brought on Eugene Dadi for Philippe Brinquin in a bid to retrieve the situation but Hibs looked in command.
Stuart Lovell wasted a chance to pull a goal back in the 58th minute when Wilson laid the ball into his path but he skied his effort.
Derek Townsley looped a header just over the crossbar at the other end as Hibs tried to kill the game.
Livingston tried to get a goal back but Hibs defended stubbornly with Yannick Zambernardi a key figure at the back.
Garry O'Connor was too selfish eight minutes from time when he had both John O'Neil and Riordan free but chose to go himself and shot straight at Main.
Then came Wilson's goal with three minutes left to ensure a worrying final few minutes for Hibs and the home side's misery was compounded by O'Brien's strike from a Dadi flick.