isql input file with multiple sql statements

I've got:
isql -U $USERID -S $SERVER -D $DATABASE -i inputfile.sql -o outputfile.txt

in inputfile I have:
go
sql#1
go
sql#2
go
sql#3
go

I also tried without "go" and with";" instead which did not work
SQL statements will work if I paste them directly into the script and use EOF

Any ideas why they won't work as an input file?