Senior Liberal figures say they will welcome Ian Macfarlane back to the fold after his failed bid to join the Nationals.
But his would-be Nationals colleagues are still agitating for another seat in Malcolm Turnbull's cabinet.
Mr Macfarlane's future in politics is uncertain after the Liberal-National Party state executive quashed the Queensland MP's attempt to switch party rooms.
Nationals senator Matt Canavan says the junior coalition partner deserved a fourth cabinet spot after an "oversight" in the ministerial reshuffle following Malcolm Turnbull's elevation to Liberal leader.
"I certainly expect that oversight to be rectified," he told ABC radio on Tuesday.
Mr Macfarlane's plan to join the Nationals was a way to improve representation of rural Australia which wasn't reflected in cabinet, he said.
"Representation in cabinet right now from rural and regional Australia is barely a facade with only three members of the cabinet (living) outside capital cities."
Nationals deputy leader Barnaby Joyce said allowing Mr Macfarlane to switch camps should have been a formality after the MP received strong support from LNP members in his Toowoomba-based seat of Groom.
"Why would you vote against Queensland getting better representation?" he said of the state executive's decision.
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said "of course" he would welcome Mr Macfarlane back to the Liberal party room if the MP decides to stay on after the Christmas break.
"Ian Macfarlane has been a very significant contributor to the Liberal Party over many years," he told ABC TV.
Senator Cormann said the former minister was understandably disappointed to no longer be in cabinet.
Liberal Scott Ryan echoed the remarks of his ministerial colleague, saying in the spirit of Christmas the party would be welcome his return.
"Occasionally you might have an argument over Christmas with a relative but the following Christmas we always welcome them back with open arms," he told Sky News.
Labor's Matt Thistlethwaite said Mr Macfarlane's attempted defection was symbolic of the "simmering tensions" in the coalition.
Coalition backbencher Ewen Jones said it was unclear how the Liberal party room would respond to Mr Macfarlane's return.
"He could walk in there and could be treated as this was a brain explosion, and he can move on and rebuild," Mr Jones told ABC radio.
"Or he could be treated with the same sort of respect and admiration as (previous LNP defector) Peter Slipper."
