Do you usually access your problem app though spotlight?
If so, you could try creating a space icon linked to your problem app and give the space icon a name that will cause it to appear above your problem app in spotlight results, then search for it in spotlight a few times and see if you can get the space icon to appear in Top Hits when searched.
The principle behind all of this is to get the space icon to appear in your app launch flow where the icon of your problem app used to.
Do you think it would be useful to add a physical item nonetheless?