I’m only recommending a bridge for a test to see if that’s your problem or not. If it is the driver will run as it’s ONLY job is polatory protection.
Yes nearly ANY SOT-23 low voltage drop diode will work, one from a FET driver would be just fine.
If you have time and don’t mind checking (cause now I’m curious) you could simply “bridge” it (as a test) with a pair of tweezers.