Kieran Agard netted twice to salvage a 4-1 victory and spare MK Dons' blushes as Maidstone threatened to cause an FA Cup upset at Stadium MK.
The Stones, who were looking to secure a place in the third round for the first time since 1978, got off to a flying start and took the lead through Magnus Okuonghae after 25 minutes.
But MK's ruthless quality proved decisive in the second half as Aidan Nesbitt, Agard and Peter Pawlett all found the net for the Sky Bet League One side.
The Vanarama National League outfit took a deserved lead after Zavon Hines' corner caused confusion in the Dons defence and Okuonghae smashed home.
Nesbitt snatched the Dons' leveller after 54 minutes with a left-footed drive that flew past Stones keeper Lee Worgan and into the bottom corner.
Agard then netted twice in eight minutes just moments after his introduction - first poking home on 64 minutes before making it 3-1 with a right-footed strike - and Pawlett wrapped things up from inside the box late on.
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